knee
Americannoun
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knees
plural
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Anatomy. the joint of the leg that allows for movement between the femur and tibia and is protected by the patella; the central area of the leg between the thigh and the lower leg.
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Zoology. the corresponding joint or region in the hind leg of a quadruped; stifle.
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a joint or region likened to this but not anatomically homologous with it, as the tarsal joint of a bird, the carpal joint in the forelimb of the horse or cow, etc.
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the part of a garment covering the knee.
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something resembling a bent knee, especially a rigid or braced angle between two framing members.
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Also called hip, shoulder. Furniture. the inward curve toward the top of a cabriole leg.
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Building Trades.
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the junction of the top and either of the uprights of a bent.
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a curved member for reinforcing the junction of two pieces meeting at an angle.
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Also called kneeler. a stone cut to follow a sharp return angle.
verb (used with object)
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knees,
present (3rd person singular)
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kneed,
past participle, past
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kneeing
present participle
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to strike or touch with the knee.
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to secure (a structure, as a bent) with a knee.
verb (used without object)
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knees,
present (3rd person singular)
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kneed,
past participle, past
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kneeing
present participle
idioms
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take a knee, to kneel on one knee, usually with the opposite leg also bent at a 90-degree angle and placed forward with the foot on the ground, as in sports or as a posture in protests and demonstrations: Organizers are coordinating so the crowds at every state capitol will take a knee in protest of racial injustice simultaneously, across time zones.
Our soccer team would take a knee if a player on either team was injured.
Organizers are coordinating so the crowds at every state capitol will take a knee in protest of racial injustice simultaneously, across time zones.
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bring someone to his / her knees, to force someone into submission or compliance.
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on one's / its knees,
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in a supplicatory position or manner.
I came to him on my knees for the money.
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in a desperate or declining condition.
The country's economy is on its knees.
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cut (someone) off at the knees, to squelch or humiliate (a person) suddenly and thoroughly.
The speaker cut the heckler off at the knees.
noun
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Technical name: genu. the joint of the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
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the area surrounding and above this joint
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(modifier) reaching or covering the knee
knee breeches
knee socks
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a corresponding or similar part in other vertebrates
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the part of a garment that covers the knee
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the upper surface of a seated person's thigh
the child sat on her mother's knee
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anything resembling a knee in action, such as a device pivoted to allow one member angular movement in relation to another
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anything resembling a knee in shape, such as an angular bend in a pipe
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any of the hollow rounded protuberances that project upwards from the roots of the swamp cypress: thought to aid respiration in waterlogged soil
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to kneel or submit
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to force someone into submission
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to cause something to be in a weakened or impoverished state
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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kneesimple
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kneessimple
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have kneedperfect
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has kneedperfect
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am kneeingprogressive
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are kneeingprogressive
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is kneeingprogressive
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have been kneeingperfect progressive
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has been kneeingperfect progressive
Past
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kneedsimple
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had kneedperfect
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was kneeingprogressive
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were kneeingprogressive
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had been kneeingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of knee
First recorded before 900; Middle English kne, cne, knei, cneo, Old English cnēo(w); cognate with German Knie, Dutch knie, Old Norse knē, Gothic kniu, Latin genu, Greek góny, Sanskrit jānu, Hittite genu, all meaning “knee”
Explanation
Your knee is the joint in your leg that joins your thigh with your shin, making it possible for you to bend your leg. Without knees, you'd walk like a Barbie doll on very stiff legs. The knee connects your tibia, or shinbone, to your femur, or thighbone. Although their bodies are arranged in different ways, there are other animals with knees, including horses, donkeys, giraffes, and deer. You can also use the word knee to mean the part of your pants that covers your actual knee: "I always get a hole in the knee of my jeans." A "knee-slapper" is a joke so funny it makes you laugh out loud.
Vocabulary lists containing knee
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They also produced a wearable textile switch that can be placed over a knee or elbow.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026
She has also endured a filming where Donald Trump openly leered at her and another where she seems to suppress a flinch when her own husband touches her knee.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
While the 28-year-old Tagovailoa may no longer be the player who once led the league in passing yards, he could prove useful for the Falcons, especially as Michael Penix Jr. recovers from a knee injury.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Both the biceps and knee injuries have lingered for months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
The whole foot, in fact, can be made to give rappings by the use only of muscles below the knee.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Djokovic dropped to his hands and knees and required a medical timeout in a surprise second-round loss in such conditions at August's Cincinnati Masters.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
“I ran an outside go route and I had to stretch out but I got my knees down,” Grant said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
Cycling may also be beneficial for your joints, particularly your knees.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
That wrist is how Alcaraz sculpts that spectacular drop shot that makes opponents quiver at the knees and would make Harry Hopman cry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Spying an empty bus shelter on the opposite side of the street, I sit on the icy metal bench and wrap my arms tight around my calves, rest my forehead on my knees.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
The Mavs were without rookie center Dereck Lively II, who injured his neck when Towns accidentally kneed him in back of the head in Game 3.
From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2024
She said she kneed him after an encounter that lasted several minutes and fled the store.
From Washington Times ● May 8, 2023
The sophomore said she was kneed in the stomach, but she returned to the field about 10 minutes later.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 12, 2022
Starting guard Reggie Jackson did play, scoring 19 points — but looked increasingly labored as the game wore on, after being kneed in the thigh.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2021
I was so anxious to get past them I accidentally kneed Kelli in the thigh.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
Brown was cutting back to the ball when he took a bad step and pulled up, leading to James kneeing him in the back.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 25, 2023
The NHL’s department of player safety fined Hathaway $5,000 for kneeing, the maximum amount allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 13, 2023
They’ll likely recall winger Arthur Kaliyev from the AHL so he can begin serving the last two games of his four-game suspension for a training camp kneeing infraction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2023
Wild forward Mason Shaw was assessed a major penalty and ejected for kneeing Sharks forward Evgeny Svechnikov in the second period.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 22, 2022
I all but pounced onto Chubs’s back, both scaring him senseless and kneeing him in the kidney in the process.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
