To kneel means to go down on one or both knees, placing them on the ground while the rest of your body stays upright. You might kneel to tie your shoe, look under a bed for a lost toy, or get a closer look at something small on the floor.

People kneel for many different reasons. In some religions, people kneel during prayer as a sign of respect or humility. A knight in old stories would kneel before a king or queen during a ceremony. Gardeners kneel to plant seeds or pull weeds. A doctor might kneel beside an injured person to help them. At a wedding, one person traditionally kneels when proposing marriage.

The position itself puts you lower than standing, which is why kneeling can carry meaning beyond just getting closer to the ground. Throughout history, kneeling has been a way to show respect, ask for something important, or demonstrate that you're not a threat. A person might kneel to comfort a crying child, getting down to their level to talk face-to-face.

The past tense is knelt or kneeled: “She knelt down to pet the puppy.”