con ‧ fess /kənˈfes/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: confesser , from Latin confiteri 'to confess' , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + fateri 'to confess' ]
1 . to admit, especially to the police, that you have done something wrong or illegal ⇨ confession
confess to (doing) something
Edwards confessed to being a spy for the KGB.
Occasionally people confess to crimes they haven’t committed just to get attention.
confess (that)
My husband confessed he’d been having an affair with a woman in his office.
Torture was used and Fian confessed.
2 . to admit something that you feel embarrassed about ⇨ confession
confess (that)
Marsha confessed that she didn’t really know how to work the computer.
confess to (doing) something
He confessed to having a secret admiration for his opponent.
I (have to/must) confess (=used when admitting something you feel slightly embarrassed about)
I must confess I don’t visit my parents as often as I should.
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In everyday English, people usually say admit rather than confess :
▪
I know it was him – he admitted it.
▪
I admit I’m not very good with money.
3 . to tell a priest or God about the wrong things you have done so that you can be forgiven ⇨ confession :
He knelt and confessed his sin.