knee-deep

adjective

ˈnē-ˈdēp 

1

a

: sunk to the knees

knee-deep in mud

b

: deeply engaged or occupied

knee-deep in work

2

: knee-high

Examples of knee-deep in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gogoi said floodwaters around her uncle’s village Hulang Katoni rose from knee-deep to neck-deep in about 30 minutes. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

The Russian bombs hit a pipe and the area was flooded in knee-deep water. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026

At the Coosawattee Shriner's Club on Shrine Club Drive, floodwaters reached knee-deep outside and inside the building. — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 29 July 2026

Speaking of political machinations, the match is already knee-deep in controversy. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for knee-deep

• asleep
• upkeep
• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap

Kids Definition

knee-deep

adjective

-ˈdēp

: being up to one's knees

knee-deep in mud

knee-deep snowdrifts