confess

[ kuhn-fes ]

verb (used with object)

1. to acknowledge or avow (a fault, crime, misdeed, weakness, etc.) by way of revelation.

   Antonyms: conceal

2. to own or admit as true:

   I must confess that I haven't read the book.

   Synonyms: concede, grant

   Antonyms: deny

3. to declare or acknowledge (one's sins), especially to God or a priest in order to obtain absolution.
4. (of a priest) to hear the confession of (a person).
5. to acknowledge one's belief or faith in; declare adherence to.
6. to reveal by circumstances.

verb (used without object)

1. to make confession plead guilty; own:

   to confess to a crime.

2. to make confession of sins, especially to a priest.
3. (of a priest) to hear confession.

confess

/ kənˈfɛs /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by to to make an acknowledgment or admission (of faults, misdeeds, crimes, etc)
2. tr to admit or grant to be true; concede
3. Christianity RC Church to declare (one's sins) to God or to a priest as his representative, so as to obtain pardon and absolution

Derived Forms

• conˈfessable, adjective

Other Words From

• con·fessa·ble adjective
• con·fessingly adverb
• half-con·fessed adjective
• precon·fess verb (used with object)
• uncon·fessed adjective
• uncon·fessing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confess¹

1300–50; Middle English confessen < Anglo-French, Old French confesser < Medieval Latin confessāre, verbal derivative of Latin confessus, past participle of confitērī to admit, confess, equivalent to con- con- + -fitērī, combining form of fatērī to admit

Word History and Origins

Origin of confess¹

C14: from Old French confesser, from Late Latin confessāre, from Latin confessus confessed, from confitērī to admit, from fatērī to acknowledge; related to Latin fārī to speak

Synonym Study

See acknowledge.

Example Sentences

He confesses humbly to being a little skeptical, makes a big show of wanting Geller to do well, invites him to return and try again, and as Geller struggles, Carson listens, waits patiently, acts baffled.

From New York Times

He confessed to his crime "without hesitation", police said.

From BBC

But despite her success, including four Grammy Awards and a Brit for best international artist, she confessed that she "grapples" with fame.

From BBC

“I confess I didn’t know who he was until 20 minutes ago,” Representative Adam Smith, who serves as the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters on Wednesday.

From BBC

An actress who received a big break working alongside household names in a new TV drama has confessed she did not recognise them when filming first started.

From BBC

Related Words

• acknowledge
• assert
• blurt out
• concede
• confide
• declare
• disclose
• divulge
• profess
• prove
• recognize
• relate
• reveal