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

Even in the Upper South, a higher-than-usual temperature and drought combo can be a death knell for gardens. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 25 June 2025

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

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