kneel

verb

ˈnēl 

knelt ˈnelt  or kneeled; kneeling

intransitive verb

: 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

The deputies yell at Stingley, in prone position, to stop resisting and at various times, one deputy kneels over Stingley, straddling his back and pressing his knee down on Stingley’s buttocks. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026

The teen can be seen kneeling on the pavement, apparently in some pain. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026

Kristian Gaeckle, my amiable instructor, is kneeling across from me. — Ariel Leve, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

When the skies cleared, the ceremony resumed and attendees knelt in the mud to receive Communion. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian; akin to Old English cnēow knee

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kneel

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• eel
• feel
• feil
• heal
• heel
• keel

Kids Definition

kneel

verb

ˈnē(ə)l 

knelt ˈnelt  or kneeled

ˈnē(ə)ld

; kneeling

: to bend the knee : support oneself on the knees

kneeler noun