kneel kneel /niːl/ verb [I] (knelt or kneeled, knelt or kneeled) ↑Verb Endings for kneel ► B2 to go down into, or stay in, a position where one or both knees are on the ground: » She knelt (down) beside the child.» He knelt in front of the altar and prayed.Thesaurus+: ↑Sitting and standing