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

• ring
• toll
• chime

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

Ultimately, the 1973 oil crisis struck the death knell for the production of such high-performance cars in North America, and by 1974, the Barracuda finished a good 10-year run. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 June 2025

Finishing second is not a death knell for American AI, but refusing to adapt to compete would be. —Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2025

Verb

An enthralling photo of Shelton knelling on one knee holding out a ring toward a flabbergasted Berdomas has over 15 million views on X largely due to the massive twister behind them. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 July 2025

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

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

Rhymes for knell

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gel
• gell

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