The forms kneeled and knelt can both be used for the past tense and past participle. When you kneel, you bend your legs so that your knees are touching the ground. She knelt by the bed and prayed Other people were kneeling, but she just sat. a kneeling position. Kneel down means the same as kneel. She kneeled down beside him. To go down or rest on one or both knees
supporting yourself on your knees rest one's weight on one's knees; "In church you have to kneel during parts of the service