(1)(正式)承(招)认(罪，错)(admit，often formally，(a fault，crime，sth wrong))[I，I+prep(to)，T+n，T+-ing， T+that， T+wh，D+n+prep(to)]：He finally～ed under the pressure.他在压力下最终认错(罪)了。～to the crime/the murder供认罪行/谋杀;refuse to～(one's guilt/one's crime/one's sins/one's misdemeanour/one's error/one's mistake/one's secret)拒绝供认(犯罪/罪行/罪孽/过失/错误/错误/秘密);～(to) hating the king/having stolen the money承认恨国王/偷了那钱;～that one was guilty/one had murdered sb招认自己有罪/谋害了某人;～one's crime to the police向警察坦白自己的罪行;〖同〗 admit，acknowledge;〖反〗 deny，conceal，cover;

(2)(不情愿地)承认(是事实)(acknowledge，admit sth，often reluctantly，as true)[I+prep(to)，T+that，C+n+to-inf(be)，C+n+adj/n]：～to a strange depression of one's spirits/to one's weakness/to an inability to understand/to having a dread of spiders/to being proud of one's success承认情绪异常低沉/自己有弱点/理解不了/害怕蜘蛛/为自己的成功感到骄傲;I must～to being surprised/that I was surprised.我必须承认我感到吃惊。～that one hasn't told the truth/sb is right承认自己没说实话/某人是对的;～oneself(to be)ignorant of sth/guilty/a thief/a novice in this matter承认不懂/有罪/是小偷/在这方面是新手;～the letter (to be) a forgery承认那封信是伪造的;

(3)忏悔(tell (one's sins) formally to a priest or God)[I，I+prep(to)，T+n， T+-ing，T+n+prep(to)，T+that，T+wh，D+prep(to)+that]：He～ed (his evil thought/his sins)before he died.他死前忏悔了(他的邪念/他的罪孽)。～to the priest before one died临死前向牧师忏悔;～(to the priest)that one had sinned(向牧师)忏悔犯过罪;

(4)听别人忏悔((of a priest) hear sb's confession in this way)[T+n]：The priest～ed the criminal/ten people. 牧师听了罪犯/10个人的忏悔。

→con′fessed adj 自己承认的;con′fessedly adv 根据(某人)自己的承认;con′fession n 认错，招供;忏悔;con′fessional n 忏悔室;con′fessor n 听取忏悔的神父;

【辨异】confess与acknowledge和admit的区别见ACKNOWLEDGE。