own (up)

as in to confess
to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid had a strong suspicion about which coworker stole her food from the office fridge, but the likely culprit refused to own up

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for own (up)
Verb
  • Court documents state that Adams confessed to officers.
    Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 July 2025
  • Gein, who lived in the rural Wisconsin community of Plainfield, confessed in 1957 to killing two local women and to digging up bodies from graveyards and using body parts and skin to make everything from trophies to lampshades.
    Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Foyt admitted that was another factor in waiting to put Ferrucci back in another car on Sunday.
    Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • Since the 2024 election, Klobuchar admitted that the party would have benefited from an open primary last summer, as well.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Own (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/own%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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