knead

verb

ˈnēd 

kneaded; kneading; kneads

transitive verb

1

a

: to work and press into a mass with or as if with the hands

kneading dough

b

: to manipulate or massage with a kneading motion

kneaded sore neck muscles

2

: to form or shape by or as if by kneading

kneadable

ˈnē-də-bəl 

adjective

kneader noun

Examples of knead in a Sentence

Knead the dough until it is smooth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Oh, and the light grassy scent adds to the lush experience of kneading your face. —Rosa Jisoo Pyo, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025

Test Kitchen Tip: Think of your bowl of focaccia dough as an analog clock to knead the dough in the bowl every 30 minutes. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2025

This nightly routine of slathering on aromatic oils and kneading away tension and worries, prepares the mind and body for a restful sleep. —Bianca Salonga, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Signs that your cat loves you include slow blinking; headbutting; grooming; kneading; showing their belly to you, which is otherwise uncommon in the feline world; meowing and purring at you. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English kneden, from Old English cnedan; akin to Old High German knetan to knead

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for knead

• bead
• bleed
• brede
• breed
• cede
• creed
• deed
• feed
• freed
• greed
• heed
• keyed

Kids Definition

knead

verb

ˈnēd 

1

: to work and press into a mass with or as if with the hands

2

: to treat as if by kneading : massage

kneader noun