kneel

verb

knelt ˈnelt How to pronounce kneel (audio) 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
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.
Soccer legend Pelé kneeling to tie his boots in the seconds before kickoff at the 1970 World Cup and the Puma brand on show is a legendary image; less well known is that it was engineered by a Canary Islander. Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 June 2026 Each night the boys would kneel in the dark and pray for help. Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 18 June 2026 The 40-year-old man was found kneeling unresponsive by his bed during routine checks, according to the statement. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026 Al-Amri then knelt and kissed the ground while his teammates surrounded him. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for kneel

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of kneel was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kneel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kneel. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

kneel

verb
knelt ˈnelt How to pronounce kneel (audio) or kneeled
ˈnē(ə)ld
; kneeling
: to bend the knee : support oneself on the knees
kneeler noun

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