Confess
verb
To admit or say that you did something wrong or broke a rule.
She confessed to stealing the candy from the store.
Often appears as...
- confess to
- confess guilt
verb
To tell someone about a secret or a personal matter that you have been hiding.
He finally confessed to his parents that he had been failing his classes.
Often appears as...
- confess to
- confess feelings
verb
In religion, to tell a priest about the things you did wrong according to your religion.
She went to the church to confess her sins.
Often appears as...
- confess sins
- go to confess
Usage tips
Religious
verb
To admit that something is true, even though you do not want to.
Although it hurt his pride, he had to confess that he was wrong.
Often appears as...
- confess truth
- confess mistake
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To admit or say that you did something wrong or broke a rule.
She confessed to stealing the candy from the store.
Often appears as...
- confess to
- confess guilt
verb
To tell someone about a secret or a personal matter that you have been hiding.
He finally confessed to his parents that he had been failing his classes.
Often appears as...
- confess to
- confess feelings
verb
In religion, to tell a priest about the things you did wrong according to your religion.
She went to the church to confess her sins.
Often appears as...
- confess sins
- go to confess
Usage tips
Religious
verb
To admit that something is true, even though you do not want to.
Although it hurt his pride, he had to confess that he was wrong.
Often appears as...
- confess truth
- confess mistake
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Regretful Admission
Confessing often implies regret for doing something wrong or breaking a rule.
He confessed to cheating on the test with a heavy heart.
Pro Tip 2/3Legal Context
In legal situations, confessing can have serious consequences, such as punishment.
The suspect confessed to the crime under interrogation.
Pro Tip 3/3Forced Confession
Be aware, 'confess' can sometimes imply the admission was reluctant or coerced.
She felt pressured and finally confessed her involvement.
Pro Tip 1/3Regretful Admission
Confessing often implies regret for doing something wrong or breaking a rule.
He confessed to cheating on the test with a heavy heart.
Pro Tip 2/3Legal Context
In legal situations, confessing can have serious consequences, such as punishment.
The suspect confessed to the crime under interrogation.
Pro Tip 3/3Forced Confession
Be aware, 'confess' can sometimes imply the admission was reluctant or coerced.
She felt pressured and finally confessed her involvement.
Pro Tip 1/3Regretful Admission
Confessing often implies regret for doing something wrong or breaking a rule.
He confessed to cheating on the test with a heavy heart.
Pro Tip 2/3Legal Context
In legal situations, confessing can have serious consequences, such as punishment.
The suspect confessed to the crime under interrogation.
Pro Tip 3/3Forced Confession
Be aware, 'confess' can sometimes imply the admission was reluctant or coerced.
She felt pressured and finally confessed her involvement.
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Video examples
Social Services Are...
And the mothers say, "Thank you." So, they chose professionals who confessed they didn't necessarily have the answers, who said -- well, they weren't going to talk in jargon. They showed their human qualities and convinced the mothers that they would stick with them through thick and thin, even though they wouldn't be soft with them. So these new teams and the families
Video examples
Ugly History: Witch...
While religious authorities encouraged witch hunts, local secular governments usually carried out the detainment and punishment of accused witches. Those suspected of witchcraft were questioned and often tortured— and under torture, thousands of innocent people confessed to witchcraft
Video examples
Water Discovered In...
And I must confess, I didn't sleep for two or three nights before that close flyby because if we hadn't seen anything, no one would ever have believed anything I said again. So, but what we found was spectacular. This image made me nearly fall off my chair, because here we see dozens
Video examples
Interrogation or Child...
suspect might lie or tell the truth they may be innocent or guilty interrogation is a high stakes game too much pressure and an innocent person might confess to a crime they didn't commit most people like to think that there is no such thing as a false confession that some
Video examples
Yuko Munakata: The...
A few years ago, a student came up to me after the second day of my class on parenting and child development. She hesitated for a second and then she confessed, "I'm really interested in this material, but I was hoping your class would help me to become a better parent
Video examples
Blueprint for a quiet...
Corps general all of whom confessed to me that introversion was their secret and their secret strengths there was a quiet teacher who somehow managed to convince her entire school to rethink its emphasis on class participation and endless group projects and there was
Video examples
The difference between...
in regard to the things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things over which you have control. Then I ran across this simple verse that said, "At God's footstool to confess, a poor soul knelt, and bowed his head. 'I failed!' he cried.
Video examples
The power of diversity...
So for example, in high school, I have to confess I was a mega-nerd. I had no sense of fashion -- thick glasses, simple hairstyle -- you can get the idea. I think, actually, I only had friends because I shared my homework. That's the truth.
Video examples
Don't fail fast -- fail...
and we were talking about the life of the entrepreneur. And of course, the issue of failure came out. I decided to confess to my friends the story of my failed business. And they shared similar stories.
Video examples
Alberto Cairo: There are...
Well I'm not a particularly brave person, I have to confess it, but I could not just ignore him. So I stopped the car and I went to help. The man was without legs
Video examples
Social Services Are...
And the mothers say, "Thank you." So, they chose professionals who confessed they didn't necessarily have the answers, who said -- well, they weren't going to talk in jargon. They showed their human qualities and convinced the mothers that they would stick with them through thick and thin, even though they wouldn't be soft with them. So these new teams and the families
Video examples
Ugly History: Witch...
While religious authorities encouraged witch hunts, local secular governments usually carried out the detainment and punishment of accused witches. Those suspected of witchcraft were questioned and often tortured— and under torture, thousands of innocent people confessed to witchcraft
Video examples
Water Discovered In...
And I must confess, I didn't sleep for two or three nights before that close flyby because if we hadn't seen anything, no one would ever have believed anything I said again. So, but what we found was spectacular. This image made me nearly fall off my chair, because here we see dozens
Video examples
Interrogation or Child...
suspect might lie or tell the truth they may be innocent or guilty interrogation is a high stakes game too much pressure and an innocent person might confess to a crime they didn't commit most people like to think that there is no such thing as a false confession that some
Video examples
Yuko Munakata: The...
A few years ago, a student came up to me after the second day of my class on parenting and child development. She hesitated for a second and then she confessed, "I'm really interested in this material, but I was hoping your class would help me to become a better parent
Video examples
Blueprint for a quiet...
Corps general all of whom confessed to me that introversion was their secret and their secret strengths there was a quiet teacher who somehow managed to convince her entire school to rethink its emphasis on class participation and endless group projects and there was
Video examples
The difference between...
in regard to the things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things over which you have control. Then I ran across this simple verse that said, "At God's footstool to confess, a poor soul knelt, and bowed his head. 'I failed!' he cried.
Video examples
The power of diversity...
So for example, in high school, I have to confess I was a mega-nerd. I had no sense of fashion -- thick glasses, simple hairstyle -- you can get the idea. I think, actually, I only had friends because I shared my homework. That's the truth.
Video examples
Don't fail fast -- fail...
and we were talking about the life of the entrepreneur. And of course, the issue of failure came out. I decided to confess to my friends the story of my failed business. And they shared similar stories.
Video examples
Alberto Cairo: There are...
Well I'm not a particularly brave person, I have to confess it, but I could not just ignore him. So I stopped the car and I went to help. The man was without legs
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Julie Plec
American Producer
The one thing that always drove me crazy, especially on soaps, was when someone would have something they were hiding, and then six months later, they were still holding onto that secret, and the world has come to a complete, total end as a result of it. If they'd only just confessed!
Quote examples
Neha Dhupia
Indian Actress
I must confess that Bollywood definitely happened by chance to me, but once it did - I took it up seriously, and made a profession out of it. And it's the best feeling in the world to be enjoying your work and getting paid to do it! It doesn't get better than that.
Quote examples
Rachel McAdams
Canadian Actress
I confess I am a romantic. I love romance, and I think it's really fun and delicious and some of my favorite films are love stories. I think that you just get a chance to fall in love with the characters so much and you get to explore their lives so deeply.
Quote examples
Garry Marshall
American Actor
I must confess that the original 'Pretty Woman' was terrific and a hit, but I always felt that creatively I didn't do justice to Richard Gere's character. So in the musical, we have some great new moments for Richard's character.
Quote examples
Louis Tomlinson
English Musician
I will confess I am a great wingman. Since I have a girlfriend, I'll start the night with her, but then I'll help out the guys by making them sound like the most incredible guys in the world.
Quote examples
Murray Kempton
American Journalist
A man can look upon his life and accept it as good or evil; it is far, far harder for him to confess that it has been unimportant in the sum of things.
Quote examples
Oliver North
American Soldier
My wife said to me... you never understood what we were going through back home, did you? And I didn't. And I have to confess that.
Quote examples
Joseph Addison
English Writer
That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession.
Quote examples
Groucho Marx
American Comedian
I must confess, I was born at a very early age.
Quote examples
Julie Plec
American Producer
The one thing that always drove me crazy, especially on soaps, was when someone would have something they were hiding, and then six months later, they were still holding onto that secret, and the world has come to a complete, total end as a result of it. If they'd only just confessed!
Quote examples
Neha Dhupia
Indian Actress
I must confess that Bollywood definitely happened by chance to me, but once it did - I took it up seriously, and made a profession out of it. And it's the best feeling in the world to be enjoying your work and getting paid to do it! It doesn't get better than that.
Quote examples
Rachel McAdams
Canadian Actress
I confess I am a romantic. I love romance, and I think it's really fun and delicious and some of my favorite films are love stories. I think that you just get a chance to fall in love with the characters so much and you get to explore their lives so deeply.
Quote examples
Garry Marshall
American Actor
I must confess that the original 'Pretty Woman' was terrific and a hit, but I always felt that creatively I didn't do justice to Richard Gere's character. So in the musical, we have some great new moments for Richard's character.
Quote examples
Louis Tomlinson
English Musician
I will confess I am a great wingman. Since I have a girlfriend, I'll start the night with her, but then I'll help out the guys by making them sound like the most incredible guys in the world.
Quote examples
Murray Kempton
American Journalist
A man can look upon his life and accept it as good or evil; it is far, far harder for him to confess that it has been unimportant in the sum of things.
Quote examples
Oliver North
American Soldier
My wife said to me... you never understood what we were going through back home, did you? And I didn't. And I have to confess that.
Quote examples
Joseph Addison
English Writer
That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession.
Quote examples
Groucho Marx
American Comedian
I must confess, I was born at a very early age.
Example 1 of 10
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