kneel

[ neel ]

verb (used without object)

, knelt [nelt] or kneeled, kneel·ing.

1. to go down or rest on the knees or a knee.

noun

1. the action or position of kneeling.

kneel

/ niːl /

verb

1. intr to rest, fall, or support oneself on one's knees

noun

1. the act or position of kneeling

Derived Forms

• ˈkneeler, noun

Other Words From

• kneeling·ly adverb
• un·kneeling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kneel¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English knelen, Old English cnēowlian (cognate with Low German knelen, Dutch knielen ). See knee, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of kneel¹

Old English cnēowlian; see knee

Example Sentences

The devil offers Jesus power over the whole world, and all he has to do is kneel before Satan and submit to his authority.

From Salon

For the role, the actor had to learn traditional Japanese, how to walk in a kimono, how to kneel properly and even how to fight.

From Los Angeles Times

For the role, the actor had to learn traditional Japanese, how to walk in a kimono, how to kneel properly and even how to fight.

From Los Angeles Times

In other scenes, militants kneel to pray in front of at least four of the female soldiers, who are handcuffed and seated on the ground.

From Seattle Times

In Viking Age Lithuania, the exhausted animals were forced to kneel on subterranean ramps and buried faced down as though galloping into the earth.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• bow