Confess Meaning
/kənˈfɛs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed.
verbTo acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
Sentence Examples
Nor am I ashamed to confess my ignorance.
The torture made him confess to crimes he had not committed.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After hours of interrogation, the suspect decided to ____ everything.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
After hours of questioning, the suspect finally decided to ____ to the crime he committed.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English confessen, from Anglo-Norman confesser, from Old French confesser, from Latin confessus (Old French confés), past participle of cōnfiteor (“to confess, admit”) from con- + fateor (“to admit”). Displaced Middle English andetten (“to confess, admit”) (from Old English andettan). Doublet of confiteor. Sense 6 is a calque of 告白 (kokuhaku).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I never gave it him. Send for him hither, / And let him confess a truth."
— c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
"And there confess / Humbly our faults, and pardon beg."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned."
— 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"Sandusky needs to confess his guilt, said an attorney for the person identified in court as Victim No. 4."
— 2012 October 8, Susan Candiotti and Jason Carroll, “Jerry Sandusky proclaims his innocence in jailhouse audio recording”, in CNN:
"In an emotional scene captured on police body camera, he repeatedly confesses to Blodgett’s killing, even telling authorities the weapon he used and where he buried the victim’s body, the arrest affidavit states."
— 2023 June 2, Cheri Mossburg, Andi Babineau and Christal Hayes, “‘I’m just tired of covering it up’: Guilt drives man to confess to murder 15 years after killing, police say”, in CNN:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After hours of interrogation, the suspect decided to ____ everything.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
After hours of questioning, the suspect finally decided to ____ to the crime he committed.