Word
kneel
US/ˈniɫ/
UK/nˈiːl/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
kneel
Past
knelt / kneeled
Past participle
knelt / kneeled
Definitions
01to rest on your knees
B1 · Intermediate
v. to go down on your knees or stay in a position where your knees touch the floor.
v. to support the body on one or both knees; often used as an intransitive verb to describe a posture of prayer, respect, or physical work.
日本語:ひざまずく※
“The photographer had to kneel on the grass to get a good shot of the flowers.”
“The knight was instructed to kneel before the queen during the ceremony to show his loyalty and respect.”
Synonyms
02bus lowering
C1 · Advanced Technical
v. when a bus lowers its front part to make it easier for people to get on.
v. to lower the front or side of a vehicle, such as a bus, using a hydraulic system to facilitate passenger boarding.
“The driver waited for the bus to kneel so the passenger in the wheelchair could board easily.”
“Modern urban transit systems often feature kneeling buses to ensure compliance with accessibility standards for elderly and disabled commuters.”
Antonyms
Usage
The verb is intransitive; the past tense and past participle can be either 'knelt' or 'kneeled'.
Pitfall
He kneeled the floor
He kneeled on the floor
Kneel is intransitive and requires a preposition like 'on' or 'at' to connect to a location.
Real-World Examples
“Kneeling next to her, I shook, cried and apologized.” “A woman kneels in prayer in front of children's coffins in Freckleton, England, on August 26, 1944.” Etymology
From Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian (“to kneel”), equivalent to knee + -le. Cognate with Dutch knielen, Low German knelen, dialectal German knielen, Alemannic German chnüle, Danish knæle, all meaning “to kneel”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/kneel
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0