knee

1 of 2

noun

ˈnē 

often attributive

1

a

: a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella

also : the part of the leg that includes this joint

b(1)

: the joint in the hind leg of a four-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee

(2)

: the carpal joint of the foreleg of a four-footed vertebrate

c

: the tarsal joint of a bird

d

: the joint between the femur and tibia of an insect

2

: something resembling the human knee: such as

a

: a piece of timber naturally or artificially bent for use in supporting structures coming together at an angle (such as the deck beams of a ship)

b

: a rounded or conical process rising from the roots of various swamp-growing trees

cypress knee

3

: the part of a garment covering the knee

4

: a blow with the bent knee

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective

knee

2 of 2

verb

kneed; kneeing

transitive verb

1

: to strike with the knee

2

archaic : to bend the knee to

Phrases

to one's knees

: into a state of submission or defeat

Examples of knee in a Sentence

Noun

I fell down and hurt my knee.

She suffered a serious knee injury.

His knees trembled with fear.

He got down on one knee and proposed to her.

His little granddaughter sat on his knee.

Her jeans had holes at the knees.

Verb

His attacker kneed him in the stomach.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Even Hall of Famer Joe Mauer tore a meniscus in his left knee in the second game of his career in 2004. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

The timing couldn’t be better, with the offense about to be turned over to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, whose preseason knee injury last year prevented him from playing as a rookie. —Dave Campbell, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025

As for Brown, he was shockingly downgraded to questionable due to his knee issue. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

To use a boxing analogy, the Giants at least have to get to one knee next season. —Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cnēow; akin to Old High German kneo knee, Latin genu, Greek gony

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing knee

• housemaid's knee
• jumper's knee
• knee breeches
• knee-deep
• knee-high
• knee-high to a grasshopper
• knee jerk
• knee-length
• knee-slapper
• knee sock
• knock-knee
• learn (something) at one's mother's knee
• lock one's knee
• on bended knee
• water on the knee

Rhymes for knee

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

knee

1 of 2 noun

ˈnē 

1

: the joint or region in the middle part of the human leg in which the femur, tibia, and kneecap come together

also : a corresponding part of a four-footed mammal

2

: something resembling the knee

especially : a cone-shaped upward growth from the roots of a few swamp-growing trees (as a cypress of the southern U.S.) that extends above the surrounding water

3

: the part of a garment covering the knee

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective

knee

2 of 2 verb

kneed; kneeing

: to strike with the knee

Medical Definition

knee

noun

ˈnē 

1

a

: a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella

called also knee joint

b

: the part of the leg that includes this joint

2

a

: the joint in the hind leg of a 4-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee

b

: the carpal joint of the foreleg of a 4-footed vertebrate

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective