# knee

/ˈni/ (US) · /nˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/knee
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. body part

noun · CEFR A2

the joint in the middle of your leg that lets you bend it.

For teachers: the joint or region of the joint in the middle part of the human leg between the thigh and the lower leg.

- He fell on the playground and scraped his left knee.
- The athlete underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in her right knee after a collision during the final match.

### 2. part of clothing

noun · CEFR B1

the part of a pair of trousers or leggings that covers your knee.

For teachers: the specific area of a garment that corresponds to and covers the wearer's knee.

- The knees of his jeans were worn out from working in the garden.
- The designer reinforced the knees of the work trousers with durable synthetic fabric to prevent premature tearing during heavy labour.

### 3. a blow

noun · CEFR B2

a hit or strike made using your knee.

For teachers: a physical strike or blow delivered using the knee joint, often in a combat or self-defence context.

- The fighter landed a sharp knee to his opponent's ribs.
- In Muay Thai, a well-timed knee to the midsection can be a decisive strike in close-quarters combat.

### 4. to strike

verb · CEFR B2

to hit someone or something with your knee.

For teachers: to strike, poke, or nudge someone using the knee joint. Transitive use requiring a direct object.

- She accidentally kneed the table while trying to sit down.
- The defender was penalised after he kneed the striker in the thigh during a scramble for the ball.

## Examples

- He fell down and hurt his knee while playing football.
- The doctor asked the patient to bend her knee to check for any signs of ligament damage.
- The athlete underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee, a common injury that requires months of physical therapy to ensure a full recovery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.