Word
knell
US/ˈnɛɫ/
UK/nˈɛl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the sound of a bell ringing slowly, usually to show that someone has died. It is often used to describe the end of something important.
n. the sound of a bell rung slowly, typically to announce a death or a funeral. Frequently used figuratively to signal the imminent end or failure of an institution, idea, or era.
Examples
“The deep knell of the church bell echoed through the valley.”
“The sudden drop in sales sounded the death knell for the small family business.”
“The tolling of the funeral knell served as a somber reminder of the community's loss, marking the finality of the ceremony with each heavy strike.”
Examples
simple
“The deep knell of the church bell echoed through the valley.”
contextual
“The sudden drop in sales sounded the death knell for the small family business.”
complex
“The tolling of the funeral knell served as a somber reminder of the community's loss, marking the finality of the ceremony with each heavy strike.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “knell” in context.
Verb
01. knell echoes
“The knell echoed through the empty streets, creating a somber atmosphere.”
noun + verb
02. knell sounds
“A distant knell sounds every evening to commemorate those lost at sea.”
noun + verb
03. signal knell
“The sudden withdrawal of funding signaled the knell for the research project.”
verb + noun
04. sound knell
“The new environmental regulations could sound the knell for the coal industry.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. death knell
“The rise of digital streaming sounded the death knell for traditional video rental stores.”
adj + noun
06. final knell
“The closing of the last factory was the final knell for the town's industrial era.”
adj + noun
07. mournful knell
“The mournful knell of the church bell could be heard for miles across the moor.”
adj + noun
08. solitary knell
“A solitary knell echoed through the valley, signaling the start of the funeral procession.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. knell for democracy
“Critics argued that the new law would be a knell for democracy in the region.”
noun + prep + noun
10. knell of doom
“To the defeated soldiers, the sound of the approaching drums was a knell of doom.”
noun + prep + noun
11. act as a knell
“The bankruptcy filing acted as a knell for the company's ambitious expansion plans.”
12. ring the knell of
“The invention of the motor car rang the knell of the horse-drawn carriage era.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the idiomatic phrase 'sound the death knell'.
Real-World Examples
“Some see it as a death knell for solar tiles; others, as an opportunity.” Etymology
From Middle English knyllen, from Old English cnyllan ("to strike; knock; clap"), from Proto-West Germanic \knuʀlijan, from Proto-Germanic \knuzlijaną ("to beat; push; mash"), from Proto-Indo-European \gen-* ("to squeeze, pinch, kink, ball up").
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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