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

As he went to kneel, I took a shot at him and [he] jumped in the door.

From The Daily Beast

I kneel with the journalist in the sand, my face stoic and yet terrified, crying, knowing that I can do nothing but wait.

From The Daily Beast

The three who were killed had been forced to kneel in a prayer position while assassins shot each in the forehead.

From The Daily Beast

Or was Giantsbane onto something when he said that Snow will never kneel again?

From The Daily Beast

The nurse then forces him to stand up, kneel down before his father, and address him as “father” thirty times in a row.

From The Daily Beast

The men stand, and the women bring with them little carpets, which they spread before them, and on which they either kneel or sit.

From Project Gutenberg

The elephant was made to kneel down, a ladder was placed against his side, and Mr. Law and myself took our places.

From Project Gutenberg

Nobody notices you if you kneel down on the road to say your prayer, in spite of the fact that you are blocking the traffic.

From Project Gutenberg

He bound the child's eyes with a white cloth, and bade him kneel beside the stone with his face to the east.

From Project Gutenberg

The stranger came forward reverently to kneel between the two nuns.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bow