# kneel

> English word · Verb · IPA /niːl/ · frequency rank #21,255

## Definitions
1. To rest on one's bent knees, sometimes only one; to move to such a position.
2. To sink down so that the entrance is level with the pavement, making it easier for passengers to enter.
3. To cause to kneel.
4. To rest on (one's) knees.

## 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”.

## Easily confused with
- **knew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-knew)
- **knees** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-knees)
- **knoll** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-knoll)
- **knelt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-knelt)
- **knell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-knell)
- **kneels** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-kneels)
- **Neil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-neil)
- **Neal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-neal)
- **Neale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kneel-vs-neale)
- **kee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kee-vs-kneel)
- **keep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keep-vs-kneel)
- **knee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/knee-vs-kneel)
- **keen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kneel)
- **keel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keel-vs-kneel)
- **Kiel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiel-vs-kneel)
- **kell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kell-vs-kneel)
- **Karel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/karel-vs-kneel)
- **knead** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/knead-vs-kneel)
- **kennel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kennel-vs-kneel)

## Common misspellings (7)
`kenel`, `kkneel`, `kneell`, `knel`, `knele`, `knneel`, `nkeel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/kneel