verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

kneel

neel

Kneel (verb) means to lower the body so that one or both knees rest on the ground. Example: “The knights knelt before the king to receive their titles.”

verb

To lower the body so that one or both knees rest on the ground.

"The knights knelt before the king to receive their titles."

"She knelt beside the bed to say her prayers."

How to use kneel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo go down onto your knees.

Common mistake

Both "knelt" and "kneeled" are accepted as the past tense — "knelt" is more common in British English.

Common pairings

kneel down kneel before someone kneel in prayer

Word forms

knelt past tense, kneeled past tense, kneels singular

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Etymology

From Old English cnēowlian, built from knee plus a verb-forming ending, meaning literally "to go to the knee."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for kneel

eel heel feel keel peel reel Neel wheel steel creel genteel newsreel

See all rhymes for kneel →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kneel” mean?

The word “kneel” means to lower the body so that one or both knees rest on the ground. In plain terms, to go down onto your knees.

How do you pronounce “kneel”?

“Kneel” is pronounced neel (/niːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “kneel” in a sentence?

Here is “kneel” used in a sentence: “The knights knelt before the king to receive their titles.”

What part of speech is “kneel”?

“Kneel” is a verb.

Where does the word “kneel” come from?

The word “kneel” comes from Old English. From Old English cnēowlian, built from knee plus a verb-forming ending, meaning literally "to go to the knee.".

Is “kneel” a common word?

“Kneel” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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Words that start with K