verb
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confide
kuhn-FYD
Confide (verb) means to tell someone a secret, trusting them to keep it private. Example: “She confided in her sister about the job offer.”
verb
1
To tell someone a secret, trusting them to keep it private.
"She confided in her sister about the job offer."
"He confided his fears to no one but his diary."
2
To entrust a task or responsibility to someone.
"The estate was confided to a trusted lawyer."
How to use confide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo share a secret with someone you trust, or to hand over responsibility for something.
Common mistake
Use "confide in someone," not "confide to someone," when sharing a secret.
Common pairings
confide in a friend
confide a secret
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- confides
- Past tense
- confided
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ in her sister about the job offer.
Etymology
From Latin confīdere, "to have full trust in" — from con- + fidere ("to trust"). A doublet of "faith" and "fidelity."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for confide
See all rhymes for confide →Frequently asked questions
What does “confide” mean?
The word “confide” means to tell someone a secret, trusting them to keep it private. In plain terms, to share a secret with someone you trust, or to hand over responsibility for something.
How do you pronounce “confide”?
“Confide” is pronounced kuhn-FYD (/kənˈfaɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “confide” in a sentence?
Here is “confide” used in a sentence: “She confided in her sister about the job offer.”
What part of speech is “confide”?
“Confide” is a verb.
Where does the word “confide” come from?
The word “confide” comes from Latin. From Latin confīdere, "to have full trust in" — from con- + fidere ("to trust"). A doublet of "faith" and "fidelity.".
How many meanings does “confide” have?
“Confide” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to tell someone a secret, trusting them to keep it private.
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