Confide Meaning
/kənˈfaɪd/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo trust, have faith (in).
verbTo entrust (something) to the responsibility of someone.
Sentence Examples
I have no one to confide in.
He didn't trust his brother enough to confide in him.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She trusted her best friend enough to ____ her deepest secret.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She decided to ____ in her best friend about her tonight.
Word Origin & History
From Middle Scots confide, confyde (“to put trust in”), from Latin confīdere (“to put trust in, have confidence in”), from con- (“together”) + fidēre (“to trust”). First attested in English use in the early 17th century. Doublet of faith and fidelity.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""Be calm, lovely Antonia!" he replied; "no danger in near you: confide in my protection.""
— 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society, published 1985, page 269:
"I shall do nothing rashly: you know me sufficiently to confide in my prudence and consideration whenever the safety of others is committed to my care."
— 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter II, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 16:
"In thy protection I confide."
— 1807, Lord Byron, The Prayer of Nature:
"One student had been so afraid to come out to our meetings that he would secretly meet me in the bookshelves of the library and confide about the miseries of being gay, closeted, and a virgin."
— 1977 December 10, Mark N. Silber, “Gays On Campus — One Story”, in Gay Community News, volume 5, number 23, page 15:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She trusted her best friend enough to ____ her deepest secret.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She decided to ____ in her best friend about her tonight.