Definition

1. Verb:
   • To admit that one has done something wrong or illegal: To formally or informally acknowledge one's own fault, crime, or mistake.
   • To declare one's sins formally to a priest or to God: In a religious context, especially in Christianity, to tell a priest or pray to God about the sins one has committed.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • After hours of questioning, the suspect finally decided to confess to the crime.
  • She confessed that she had broken the vase while playing ball in the house.
  • Many Catholics go to church to confess their sins to a priest.

Advanced Usage

• "confess to (something/doing something)": To admit to a specific act or wrongdoing.

  • He confessed to stealing the documents.
  • She confessed to feeling nervous about the presentation.

• "I must confess...": A phrase used to introduce an admission, often of a minor fault, opinion, or feeling.

  • I must confess, I didn't really enjoy the movie.
  • I have to confess I ate the last piece of cake.

Variants and Related Words

• Confession (n): The act of confessing or the thing that is confessed.

  • He made a full confession to the police.
  • Her confession of guilt surprised everyone.

• Confessor (n): A priest who hears confessions; or, a person who confesses.

  • He spoke to his confessor about his troubles.

Synonyms

• Admit: To agree that something is true, especially reluctantly.
• Own up: To confess to something, often informally.
• Acknowledge: To accept or admit the existence or truth of something.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Confess to: This is the primary construction. It is used with a noun or a gerund (-ing form) to specify the wrongdoing.
  • He confessed to the murder.
  • She confessed to taking the money.

Related Idioms

• Confess all: To confess everything, to make a full and complete confession.

  • Under pressure, the spy decided to confess all.

• A clean confession is good for the soul: (Proverb) Suggesting that admitting your faults will make you feel better mentally or spiritually.

  • Don't carry the guilt; remember, a clean confession is good for the soul.

Verb

1. confess to God in the presence of a priest, as in the Catholic faith
2. admit (to a wrongdoing)
   • She confessed that she had taken the money
3. confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure