knee-deep

American  

[nee-deep] / ˈniˈdip /

adjective

1. reaching the knees.

   knee-deep mud.

2. submerged or covered up to the knees.

   knee-deep in water.

3. deeply embroiled; enmeshed; involved.

   knee-deep in trouble.

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knee-deep British  

adjective

1. so deep as to reach or cover the knees

   knee-deep mud

2. 1. sunk or covered to the knees

      knee-deep in sand

   2. immersed; deeply involved

      knee-deep in work

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Etymology

Origin of knee-deep

First recorded in 1525–35

Example Sentences

Anyone using them for mission-critical tasks today will eventually find themselves knee-deep in a catastrophe.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

Less than a mile away from the Meta Campus, Menlo Park residents on Wednesday woke up to rising knee-deep floodwaters and possible evacuation warnings.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

In Jamaica, the impact was most severe in the southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, where knee-deep mud and washed-out bridges left towns such as Black River cut off.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2025

By June, peach season is well underway and I’m knee-deep in turning out goodies that pay homage to my favorite sunset-hued, fuzzy stone fruit.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2025

Six months after Liar’s Poker was published, I was knee-deep in letters from students at Ohio State University who wanted to know if I had any other secrets to share about Wall Street.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis