Kneeled and knelt are both past tense spellings of the verb kneel, which describes “being in or moving into a position where your body is supported on your knee or knees”.
Kneeled vs. Knelt (UK vs. US English)
The spelling form of the past tense of ‘kneel’ varies on whether you’re using UK English or US English conventions:
He kneeled before the king.
She had knelt for a long time.
He knelted before the king.
She has kneeleded for a long time.
- UK English spells “knelt” without “ed” at the end (prefers the irregular verb form).
- US English spells “kneeled” with the “ed” (uses the standard verb conjugation).
Other US English and UK English differences
Common spelling differences between UK and US English are apparent across many words and spelling patterns:
Words with -our/-or:
| UK English | US English |
|---|---|
| favour and favourite | favor and favorite |
| labour | labor |
| behaviour | behavior |
| honour | honor |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| humour | humor |
Words ending in -er and -re:
- (UK spelling) centre, metre, fibre, theatre.
- (US spelling) center, meter, fiber, theater.
Words ending in -ce and -se:
- (UK spelling) defence, offence, licence.
- (US spelling) defense, offense, license.
Verbs with one L or two L’s:
- (UK spelling) travelled, modelled, labelled, cancelled.
- (US spelling) traveled, modeled, labeled, canceled.
Other words like knelt/kneeled
Generally speaking, American or US English prefers the standard verb conjugation to the past tense, which uses “ed”.
UK English prefers an irregular verb form, and the older English writing form of verb conjugations, which uses “t” as a past tense and past participle.
| UK spelling | US spelling |
| learnt | learned |
| smelt | smelled |
| spelt | spelled |
| burnt | burned |
| leapt | leaped |
Sentences with kneeled/knelt
Henry kneeled/knelt to pick up the wallet that someone dropped.
Sam kneeled/knelt before the king.
I kneeled/knelt before the altar to worship God.
He kneeled/knelt and prayed for guidance.
“kneeled” vs. “knelt,” associate “kneeled” with US English (it has the “-ed”) and “knelt” with UK English (it’s the short, irregular form).
“Kneel”, synonyms
- bow
- curtsey
- genuflect (“to bend the knee or touch one knee to the floor in reverence or worship”.)
- kowtow
- stoop
- bow down
- prostrate oneself
Origin of ‘kneel’
From Etymonline on kneel:
Old English cneowlian “to kneel, fall on the knees,” from Proto-Germanic *knewljan.
Learn more about US English vs. UK English
| Commonly misused words | UK English vs. US English |
|---|---|
| former vs. latter | burned or burnt? |
| bear with vs. bare with | color or colour? |
| breathe or breath | favorite vs. favourite |
| compliment vs. complement | smelled or smelt? |
| effect vs. affect | gray or grey? |
| elude or allude | favor vs. favour |
| it’s or its | analyze or analyse? |
Sources
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of kneel.” Online Etymology Dictionary Accessed 9 March, 2024.
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, kneel.
Work Sheet
According to the blog post, what does the verb ‘kneel’ describe?
Which spelling for the past tense of ‘kneel’ is preferred in US English, according to the post?
Which spelling for the past tense of ‘kneel’ is preferred in UK English, according to the post?
Which of the following is explicitly listed in the blog post as an INCORRECT verb form for the past tense of ‘kneel’?
Based on the post’s usage notes, which sentence is a correct example of the past tense in US English?
He _______ before the king. (Choose the spelling preferred in US English.)
She had _______ for a long time. (Choose the spelling preferred in UK English for the past participle.)
In the US, the child _______ at the altar during the prayer.
In the UK, he _______ down to tie his shoe.
The student _______ before the teacher to receive their award. (Choose the spelling preferred in US English).
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ‘kneeled’ and ‘knelt’ both correct?
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What’s the difference: kneeled vs. knelt?
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Which spelling is used in US English?
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Which spelling is used in UK English?
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Are ‘knelted’ or ‘kneeleded’ correct?
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Yash, D. "Is it Kneeled or Knelt? (Spelling, Differences & Examples)." Grammarflex, Jun 20, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/is-it-kneeled-or-knelt-spelling-differences-examples/.
