kneeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kneeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of bending one's knees and resting them on the ground, often as a sign of respect, submission, or prayer. Example: "He was kneeling in front of the altar, deep in prayer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thomas Ryan was kneeling down, whispering a prayer into the ears of another dying man when he was himself shot.

The Guardian

At the end of the Haines video, a fourth hostage, a Briton, appears kneeling and being threatened by the killer.

The Guardian

Once naked, two rebels held him in a kneeling position with his head pushed towards the earth.

The Guardian

Throughout the video, Haines appears kneeling, next to his killer.

The Guardian

So he will pray again, just like he has for the past 364 days and nights, kneeling at the side of her empty bed.

The Guardian - Opinion

The two men are shown kneeling in front of a mock rural landscape, apparently in a photographic studio.

The Guardian

You start by kneeling on a surfboard, propelling yourself along with a single-blade paddle.

The Guardian - Travel

A photograph of a kneeling shirtless man with similar features to those of the world's most wanted drug trafficker, pictured against a background of military uniforms, is also circulating on social media as is an image of the rather ordinary looking hotel where it all reportedly happened on Friday night.

The Guardian

With an encouraging smile, a co-worker pulled up a trouser leg to reveal his own scarred shin.Because the pickers were squatting or kneeling under the vines and twisting to reach up for the grapes (the low-hanging fruit proving the trickiest), their necks and shoulders were soon in agony.

The Economist

Kneeling on the floor of a college gymnasium, she stabbed the spaces between the fingers of her splayed hand, switching knives each time she hit a finger, and tape-recorded everything so she could replicate the exercise (and the injuries) right away.

The Economist

By the side of the road, two women were kneeling down trying to sweep up some grains of rice that had fallen from a passing cart.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific action or posture, use "kneeling" to clearly indicate the person is resting on their knees, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "kneeling" interchangeably with "crouching" or "squatting". "Kneeling" specifically involves the knees touching the ground, while the others do not.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "kneeling" is that of a verb, specifically the present participle form. This means it's often used to describe an ongoing action. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in describing both physical actions and states of being.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

40%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Kneeling" is a grammatically sound verb, functioning primarily as a present participle to depict an action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and versatile. It commonly appears in news, media, and encyclopedic contexts, denoting the act of resting on one's knees, often connoting respect, submission, or prayer. While alternatives like "bending down" or "crouching" exist, they lack the specific nuance of resting directly on the knees. Therefore, when precision is key, "kneeling" provides the most accurate description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a kneeling position

A descriptive way to indicate someone is kneeling.

down on the knees

Emphasizes the act of going down onto the knees.

on bended knee

A more formal expression for kneeling, often associated with proposals or supplication.

bending down

Refers to lowering the body but doesn't necessarily involve resting on the knees.

crouching

Implies a lower stance, often with bent knees but not necessarily touching the ground.

genuflecting

A specific form of kneeling, usually as a religious gesture involving touching one knee to the ground.

squatting

Lowering the body with bent knees, keeping the back straight.

bowing down

Implies lowering the head and upper body as a sign of respect or submission.

at prayer

Implies kneeling as part of a prayer ritual.

prostrating

Lying flat on the ground, face down, often as a sign of reverence or submission.

FAQs

How to use "kneeling" in a sentence?

You can use "kneeling" to describe the action of someone bending their knees and resting on them. For example, "He was "kneeling in prayer"."

What can I say instead of "kneeling"?

You can use alternatives like "bending down", "crouching", or "on bended knee" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "kneeling" or "bending down"?

"Kneeling" specifically means resting on your knees, while "bending down" is a more general term for lowering your body.

What's the difference between "kneeling" and "squatting"?

"Kneeling" involves the knees touching the ground, while "squatting" involves bending the knees but keeping the feet flat on the ground.