kneel

verb

ˈnēl 

knelt ˈnelt  or kneeled; kneeling

intransitive verb

: to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor

The prisoners were ordered to kneel.

: to fall or rest on the knees

She kneeled on the floor next to the child.

Examples of kneel in a Sentence

She was kneeling on the floor beside her child.

He was kneeling in front of the altar and praying.

Recent Examples on the Web

Surrounded by a pink floral arch and too many candles to count, the quarterback knelt in front of the Marvel actor, who was dressed in a black and white shirt dress and knee-high boots. —Glamour, 1 Dec. 2024

Five years ago, then-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick brought social justice into the heart of professional sports with his decision to kneel during that national anthem, spurring a national conversation about the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024

Two hours into her Jamaican honeymoon, Lauren Esper was kneeling over her unconscious husband and screaming for help. —David Bruce, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2024

Progressive activists celebrated Kaepernick and the other players who subsequently kneeled in support. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian; akin to Old English cnēow knee

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

kneel

verb

ˈnē(ə)l 

knelt ˈnelt  or kneeled

ˈnē(ə)ld

; kneeling

: to bend the knee : support oneself on the knees

kneeler noun