# own up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/own-up
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He owned up the mistake." but "He owned up to the mistake." — the verb requires the preposition 'to' before a noun or gerund object.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.