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. 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

Other Word Forms

• confessable adjective
• confessingly adverb
• half-confessed adjective
• preconfess verb (used with object)
• unconfessed adjective
• unconfessing 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

In a message on her official X account posted while she was en route to a gathering of world leaders in South Africa, she confessed to agonizing over her wardrobe.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A’zion has held onto her dirty script, and its happy memories, but she confesses, “I still don’t feel like it’s real. It’s like, ‘Did I really do that?’

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For Brooks, the dream she confessed to harboring on that Santa Monica beach almost 30 years ago, has most certainly come true.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Normally, I’m like, ‘I don’t want to do that,’” says Jackman, over Zoom from a New York hotel room, as if he’s confessing a mortal sin.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Appeal court documents confirm that the first time he "confessed" was not recorded and no solicitor was present.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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