1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster)
2
: an indication of the end or the failure of something
sounded the death knell for our hopes
knelled; knelling; knells
: to summon or announce by or as if by a knell
1
: to ring especially for a death, funeral, or disaster : toll
2
: to sound in an ominous manner or with an ominous effect
Examples of knell in a Sentence
Verb
the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader
Recent Examples on the Web
Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The Chicago Teachers Union is the death knell for the success and growth of any school.
—Mailee Smith, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2024
Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for knell 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The energy transition need not be a death knell for the Kingdom; the evolution offers it a chance to maintain its status as an energy superpower.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The Chicago Teachers Union is the death knell for the success and growth of any school.
—Mailee Smith, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
Day 18: Hard to focus with all the death knells tolling.
—Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for knell
Dictionary Entries Near knell
Cite this Entry
“Knell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knell. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knell
2 of 2 noun1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly for a death, funeral, or disaster
2
: an indication (as a sound) of the end or failure of something
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share