knelt
ˈnelt 
or kneeled; kneeling
or kneeled; kneeling
: to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor
The prisoners were ordered to kneel.
: to fall or rest on the knees
She kneeled on the floor next to the child.
Examples of kneel in a Sentence
She was kneeling on the floor beside her child.
He was kneeling in front of the altar and praying.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dozens arrived before the start of Mass to kneel or bow in prayer under the church’s wooden arches and starry blue dome.
—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
The aspirations of Zack Snyder's General Zod (Michael Shannon) go way beyond persuading the son of Jor-El (Henry Cavill) to kneel before him.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 July 2025
The opening of Chavarria’s show highlighted thirty-five men, dressed in white shirts, who knelt on the runway, hands behind their back, as a symbolic statement of the impact the Trump Administration’s weaponization of ICE has caused in his hometown.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Combs was also down on the ground, kneeling in gratitude.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for kneel
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
The aspirations of Zack Snyder's General Zod (Michael Shannon) go way beyond persuading the son of Jor-El (Henry Cavill) to kneel before him.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 July 2025
The opening of Chavarria’s show highlighted thirty-five men, dressed in white shirts, who knelt on the runway, hands behind their back, as a symbolic statement of the impact the Trump Administration’s weaponization of ICE has caused in his hometown.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Combs was also down on the ground, kneeling in gratitude.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for kneel
Cite this Entry
“Kneel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kneel. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share