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confess

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verb [intransitive/transitive] American English pronunciation: confess /kənˈfes/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyconfess
he/she/itconfesses
present participleconfessing
past tenseconfessed
past participleconfessed
  1. 1
    to admit that you have committed a crime

    After three hours of interrogation, he confessed everything.

    confess to someone:

    Eventually he confessed to the police.

    confess to (doing) something:

    Simpson has confessed to taking the money.

    confess (that):

    He later confessed that he had been involved in the attack.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  confessThesaurus entry for this meaning of confess
    1. a.
      to admit that you have done something wrong

      He confessed to Sarah that he had been seeing another woman.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  confessThesaurus entry for this meaning of confess
  2. 2
    to admit something about yourself that you would not normally tell people because you are embarrassed about it or they could be disappointed by it

    I had to confess my ignorance when they asked me to operate the truck.

    confess (that):

    He confessed he did not understand financial matters at all.

    confess to doing something:

    Nick confessed to being a secret opera fan.

    confess to someone that:

    Years later Luke confessed to friends that he really fancied me.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  confessThesaurus entry for this meaning of confess

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This is the American English definition of confess. View British English definition of confess.

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