knoll
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
-
to ring or toll a bell for; announce by tolling.
-
to ring or toll (a bell).
verb (used without object)
-
to sound, as a bell; ring.
-
to sound a knell.
noun
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have knolledperfect
-
has knolledperfect 3rd person singular
-
am knollingprogressive 1st person singular
-
are knollingprogressive
-
has been knollingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is knollingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been knollingperfect progressive
-
knollingparticiple
-
knollssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had knolledperfect
-
were knollingprogressive plural
-
was knollingprogressive singular
-
had been knollingperfect progressive
-
knolledparticiple
-
knolledsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of knoll1
before 900; Middle English cnol, Old English cnoll; cognate with Norwegian knoll hillock; akin to Dutch knol turnip, Icelandic knollur, German Knollen, Danish knold tuber
Origin of knoll2
1350–1400; Middle English (noun and v.); variant of knell
Explanation
A knoll is a small hill or mound of earth, which makes a shady knoll a perfect spot for a summer picnic. The word knoll is associated with the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who was shot in Dallas just as his motorcade passed a grassy knoll. At first people thought that was where the shots had come from, but it was later determined that the assassin had fired from a nearby building instead. The "grassy knoll” became symbolic of a theory that others had participated in the assassination, and the term has become shorthand for any conspiracy theory.
Vocabulary lists containing knoll
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Animal Farm
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“We’re trying to evoke some of the fun adventure of movies from the ’80s and the ’90s that used these techniques,” Knoll says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
The district contracted with Paramo’s personal trainer Isaiah Knoll to provide athletic training services despite the fact that Knoll does not hold any credentials in sports medicine, the Leader reported.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025
In one shot, Hindley is seen crouching on a rock, cradling her dog, in an area known as Hollin Brown Knoll.
From BBC • Jul. 30, 2025
The longtime Hollywood haunt, often seen onscreen, had become a different kind of “writers’ room” during the walkout, my colleague Corina Knoll reported in July.
From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2023
The parade ended at Greywacke Knoll, where there was a big ceremony.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
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.
