own up

verb

owned up; owning up; owns up

intransitive verb

: to admit to being responsible for something
denied having broken the window, but later owned up
usually used with to
They owned up to having broken the window.

Examples of own up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Samantha was convinced that the clue pointed to Corey, a 38-year-old builder who'd owned up to having one birth sister and one stepsister, after Cara flawlessly lied about having only one. Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Rather than hope no one picks up on your blunder, own up, apologize and offer solutions, Smith said. Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025 Case in point – own up to the offer & explain the reason openly. Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 Saxon tries to confront him about what’s been going on – the question of the hour for seven straight episodes – and Tim still can’t own up to anything and tell any of his family even part of the truth. Dan Heching, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for own up

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of own up was in 1844

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Own up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/own%20up. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on own up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!