# confessing

/kənˈfɛsɪŋ/ (US) · /kənfˈɛsɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confessing
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

to admit that you have done something wrong, illegal, or embarrassing. You use this when you finally tell the truth about a secret.

For teachers: to admit or acknowledge a crime, fault, or private thought. Often used with the preposition 'to' or followed by a 'that' clause.

## Examples

- He is confessing to the crime right now.
- After hours of questioning, the suspect is finally confessing to his role in the robbery.
- The protagonist spends the final chapter confessing his deepest regrets to a stranger, seeking a sense of absolution that his own family could never provide.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is confessing the crime to the police." but "He is confessing to the crime." — When admitting to a specific act or crime, the verb usually requires the preposition 'to' before the noun phrase.

## Usage notes

- The verb is often followed by the preposition 'to' plus a gerund or noun phrase, or by a 'that' clause.

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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.