knell

1 of 2

noun

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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Some decried Mountain Chalet's closure as the death knell for an older, more authentic Aspen. Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2024 Relentless pursuit of the best solutions Complacency is the death knell of decision-making in construction. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
Day 18: Hard to focus with all the death knells tolling. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020 See all Example Sentences for knell 

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near knell

Cite this Entry

“Knell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knell. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

knell

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on knell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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