own up

Idioms  

1. Confess, make a full admission, as in Come on, Tim, you'd better own up that you lost the car keys. This idiom uses the verb own in the sense of “acknowledge.” [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

own up

When Lestat is made to reckon with what’s presented as “failures” in both his mortal and immortal lives, he can’t quite own up to being a true monster, because that’s not what he really is.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

But one aspect of a fair justice system is for wrongdoers to face proportionate consequences—not to be shunned forever, but to be expected to own up, make amends, and, sometimes, pay a penalty.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

The U.S. should own up to its good intentions.

From Barron's ● Jan. 14, 2026

Whether France can hold their own up front is another thing.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025

Or it could own up to its complicity.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

Related Words

• accept
• affirm
• agree
• allow
• approve
• concede
• confirm
• declare
• disclose
• grant
• indicate
• permit
• recognize
• reveal
• talk
• tell