# confessed

/kənˈfɛst/ (US) · /kənfˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confessed
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. admitted a crime or mistake

verb · CEFR B1

admitted that you did something wrong or illegal.

For teachers: admitted to a crime, fault, or error, often under legal or moral pressure. Transitive or used with the preposition 'to'.

- After hours of questioning, the suspect finally confessed to the robbery.
- The defendant confessed to the charges only after the prosecution presented overwhelming forensic evidence that linked him to the scene.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'to' when referring to an action or crime.

### 2. shared a secret feeling

verb · CEFR B2

told someone a secret or a feeling that you had been keeping inside.

For teachers: disclosed a private thought, feeling, or desire that was previously hidden.

- She confessed that she had been feeling very lonely lately.
- He confessed his long-standing admiration for her work during the quiet moments of the retirement dinner.

### 3. admitted or self-identified

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes someone who has openly admitted to being or doing something.

For teachers: denoting a person who has openly admitted to a particular habit, belief, or identity. Usually placed before the noun.

- As a confessed chocolate lover, he couldn't resist the dessert menu.
- The author, a confessed technophobe, still writes all of his initial drafts using a fountain pen and heavy bond paper.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in an attributive position before a noun.

## Examples

- He finally confessed to breaking the window.
- After hours of questioning, the suspect confessed that he had stolen the car from the parking lot.
- Although she initially denied any involvement, she eventually confessed her true feelings for him during a moment of unexpected vulnerability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.