knell

1 of 2

noun

ˈnel 

1

: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster)

2

: an indication of the end or the failure of something

sounded the death knell for our hopes

knell

2 of 2

verb

knelled; knelling; knells

transitive verb

: to summon or announce by or as if by a knell

intransitive verb

1

: to ring especially for a death, funeral, or disaster : toll

2

: to sound in an ominous manner or with an ominous effect

Synonyms

Verb

• bong
• chime
• peal
• ring
• toll

Examples of knell in a Sentence

Verb

the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The final death knell of the Great Resignation has rung. —Nela Richardson, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2023

The social distancing, masking, and dramatic reduction of global travel that followed the start of the pandemic appeared to have sounded a death knell for B/Yamagata. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 5 Oct. 2023

Now, an increasing number of experts are sounding the death knell for the two-state solution. —Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2023

Some might accuse me of prematurely tolling Twitter’s death knell. —J.p. Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023

Folding its developer Luminous Productions back into Square Enix shortly after the game’s launch seemed like the death knell for the game. —Ash Parrish, The Verge, 29 Mar. 2023

Axne’s narrow defeat last November can be argued both ways—either as the death knell of Democrats in Iowa or as the result of strategic missteps. —Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 Feb. 2023

When Superior Court Judge Robert Okun delivered his death knell to the museum, the National Gallery already had plans to present an exhibition of the British artist Rachel Whiteread and an important survey of outsider art at the Corcoran. —Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023

Wednesday's softer-than-expected inflation data may prove the death knell for the strong U.S. dollar. —Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, 13 July 2023

Verb

Day 18: Hard to focus with all the death knells tolling. —Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020

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Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English cnyllan; akin to Middle High German erknellen to toll

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing knell

• sound/ring/toll the death knell

• sound/ring/toll the death knell

Kids Definition

knell

1 of 2 verb

ˈnel 

1

: to ring slowly and solemnly especially for a death, funeral, or disaster : toll

2

: to summon, announce, or warn by a knell

knell

2 of 2 noun

1

: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly for a death, funeral, or disaster

2

: an indication (as a sound) of the end or failure of something