knee-deep
Americanadjective
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reaching the knees.
knee-deep mud.
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submerged or covered up to the knees.
knee-deep in water.
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deeply embroiled; enmeshed; involved.
knee-deep in trouble.
adjective
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so deep as to reach or cover the knees
knee-deep mud
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sunk or covered to the knees
knee-deep in sand
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immersed; deeply involved
knee-deep in work
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Etymology
Origin of knee-deep
First recorded in 1525–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Knee-deep rivers that are prime hunting grounds for fish have become waist-deep torrents, moving too fast to fish.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2017
Knee-deep in a swamp for six weeks making Empire Of The Ants.
From The Guardian • May 31, 2014
Knee-deep in water, I tried to save what I could.
From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2010
Knee-deep in Louisiana oil and politics, he and Huey Long used to get together for talkfests that often lasted until 4 a.m.
From Time Magazine Archive
They say she weeps Knee-deep in the river, The gray of dusk A shawl over her head.
From "Neighborhood Odes" by Gary Soto
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
