knell
Americannoun
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the sound made by a bell rung slowly, especially for a death or a funeral.
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a sound or sign announcing the death of a person or the end, extinction, failure, etc., of something.
the knell of parting day.
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any mournful sound.
verb (used without object)
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to sound, as a bell, especially a funeral bell.
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to give forth a mournful, ominous, or warning sound.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the sound of a bell rung to announce a death or a funeral
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something that precipitates or indicates death or destruction
verb
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(intr) to ring a knell
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(tr) to proclaim or announce by or as if by a tolling bell
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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knellsimple
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knellssimple
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have knelledperfect
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has knelledperfect
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am knellingprogressive
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are knellingprogressive
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is knellingprogressive
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have been knellingperfect progressive
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has been knellingperfect progressive
Past
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knelledsimple
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had knelledperfect
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was knellingprogressive
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were knellingprogressive
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had been knellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of knell
before 950; (noun) Middle English knel, Old English cynll; (v.) Middle English knellen, knyllen, Old English cynllan; cognate with Old Norse knylla to beat, strike; akin to Dutch knal bang, knallen to bang, German Knall explosion, knallen to explode
Explanation
A knell is a ringing sound, particularly from a bell tolled to announce a death or the end of something. Which is kind of depressing. From the Old English cnyll, meaning “sound made by a bell when struck or rung slowly,” comes our modern day knell. It certainly describes the slow, ominous sound of funeral bells, but isn't always used so literally: We often say that a final blow or action that will bring an end to something sounds or signals the death knell. And if you hear a bell knell in your dreams, look out — superstition says that's not a good sign.
Vocabulary lists containing knell
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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.
Foul trouble hit BYU in the second half, when Hall picked up his fourth with 17:39 to go and Trevin Knell got his fourth — after a double-technical with Dickinson — just minutes later.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2024
Protesters gather outside the facility regularly, and in May, Casper Mayor Bruce Knell apologized for a Facebook post about the clinic some interpreted as sympathizing with the fire attack.
From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2023
The BBC's Yolande Knell: "A very frightening day for Israelis and Palestinians"
From BBC • May 10, 2023
Mr Ben-Gvir promised to bring safety back to Israel's streets but there is rising anger that he has not yet done so, says the BBC's Yolande Knell in Jerusalem.
From BBC • Jan. 28, 2023
"Fine wise talk from you, Knell," said Longstreth, scornfully.
From The Lone Star Ranger, a romance of the border by Grey, Zane
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.
