admit willingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "admit willingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone acknowledges or confesses to something with a sense of consent or eagerness. Example: "After much contemplation, she decided to admit willingly that she had made a mistake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

(I admit willingly I stole that line from a reader - quite good, isn't it?) 1.22am BST We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

What is never admitted to, willingly, is the consequence: how access to the original gene sequence also is blocked for the life of the patent.

The Guardian

Few men would willingly admit that.

The Guardian

No wonder shoppers willingly admit to buying fakes.

The New York Times

"We willingly admit we were not expecting the foundation to treat a partner in this manner.

The New York Times

I frankly and willingly admit that to interrupt the writing of "Herzog" irritated me and possibly made me bearish.

The New Yorker

The problem with the app, as its creators willingly admit, is that it isn't yet up to the task of decoding nuanced human communication.

The Guardian - Opinion

The climactic scene, in which the husband and wife unwittingly overhear a murder while having sex, memorably dramatises the idea that the division between life and death is at all times thinner and more fragile than we willingly admit.

The Guardian - Books

I willingly admit to my own shortcomings here: a limited tolerance for operetta silliness of the kind shown in "The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein" and for bel canto vocal display of the type that fills "La Donna del Lago" ("The Lady of the Lake").

The New York Times - Arts

I can see now, and I willingly admit, that I haven't been the greatest graduate student.

Science Magazine

Who in his right mind would willingly admit to altering accounting diaries or approving golden parachutes fit for a West African dictator?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "admit willingly" when you want to emphasize the voluntary nature of an admission, especially when the admission might be expected to be reluctant or forced. For example, "He may not have liked his boss, but he had to "admit willingly" that she was an efficient manager".

Common error

Avoid using "admit willingly" when the context suggests coercion or manipulation. Willingness implies a genuine choice, not just compliance under pressure. For instance, if someone "admits willingly" after being threatened, the phrase becomes contradictory.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admit willingly" functions as a verb phrase, where "admit" is the main verb and "willingly" is an adverb modifying it. It indicates the manner in which something is being admitted. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is considered correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "admit willingly" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that emphasizes the voluntary nature of an admission. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news and media, as well as scientific writings. When using this phrase, ensure the context genuinely reflects a free and unforced admission. Related alternatives include "confess readily" and "acknowledge freely". Remember that while "admit willingly" is correct, being mindful of the nuances of willingness helps maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confess readily

Replaces "admit" with "confess" to emphasize the act of acknowledging wrongdoing, and "willingly" with "readily" to highlight eagerness.

acknowledge freely

Uses "acknowledge" instead of "admit" to suggest a more general acceptance of something, and "freely" instead of "willingly" to indicate a lack of constraint.

own up voluntarily

Employs the phrasal verb "own up" which implies taking responsibility, and "voluntarily" to emphasize that the action is unforced.

concede openly

Replaces "admit" with "concede" to imply admitting something reluctantly, often in a debate or argument, and "openly" to emphasize transparency.

divulge without hesitation

Replaces "admit" with "divulge", suggesting the revealing of secret information, and "without hesitation" which is more emphatic than "willingly".

profess freely

Replaces "admit" with "profess", implying a declaration of belief or feeling, and "freely" indicating openness and lack of restriction.

declare unreservedly

Uses "declare" instead of "admit", conveying a formal announcement, and "unreservedly" to mean without any hesitation or limitation.

accept responsibility eagerly

Focuses on accepting the consequences or blame, using "eagerly" to intensify the willingness.

fess up voluntarily

Uses the informal phrasal verb "fess up" to indicate a confession, and "voluntarily" to highlight the lack of coercion.

come clean without prompting

Employs the idiom "come clean" meaning to confess fully, adding "without prompting" to show the action was uninitiated.

FAQs

How can I use "admit willingly" in a sentence?

You can use "admit willingly" to emphasize that someone is acknowledging something freely and without being forced. For example, "The company decided to "admit willingly" to the mistake in order to maintain public trust".

What can I say instead of "admit willingly"?

You can use alternatives like "confess readily", "acknowledge freely", or "own up voluntarily", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "admit willingly" or "willingly admit"?

Both "admit willingly" and "willingly admit" are grammatically correct, but "willingly admit" is generally more common. The placement emphasizes either the act of admitting or the willingness behind it.

What's the difference between "admit willingly" and "reluctantly admit"?

"Admit willingly" implies a voluntary and unforced acknowledgement, whereas "reluctantly admit" suggests that the person is acknowledging something against their will or with hesitation.