Phrasal verb
own up
Definition
phrasal verb. to admit that you did something wrong or made a mistake. You use this when you finally tell the truth about something you were trying to hide.
phrasal verb. to admit responsibility for a wrongdoing, error, or fault. The verb is intransitive but frequently takes a prepositional complement introduced by 'to'.
Examples
“Nobody would own up to breaking the expensive vase.”
“The manager asked who left the office door unlocked, but no one wanted to own up.”
“The politician was eventually forced to own up to his involvement in the scandal after the incriminating documents were leaked to the press.”
Examples
simple
“Nobody would own up to breaking the expensive vase.”
contextual
“The manager asked who left the office door unlocked, but no one wanted to own up.”
complex
“The politician was eventually forced to own up to his involvement in the scandal after the incriminating documents were leaked to the press.”
Usage
usually followed by the preposition 'to' when mentioning the specific action or mistake.
Teaching tip
compare with 'fess up' for a more casual tone and 'confess' for more serious or legal contexts; 'own up' is the standard choice for everyday accountability.
Pitfall
He owned up the mistake.
He owned up to the mistake.
the verb requires the preposition 'to' before a noun or gerund object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
own + up (+ to + object)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/own-up