confide

American  

[kuhn-fahyd] / kənˈfaɪd /

verb (used without object)

confided, confiding

1. to impart secrets trustfully; discuss private matters or problems (usually followed byin ).

   She confides in no one but her husband.

2. to have full trust; have faith.

   They confided in their own ability.

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verb (used with object)

confided, confiding

1. to tell in assurance of secrecy.

   He confided all his plans to her.

   Synonyms:

   impart, divulge, reveal, disclose

2. to entrust; commit to the charge or knowledge of another.

   She confided her jewelry to her sister.

confide British  

/ kənˈfaɪd /

verb

1. to disclose (secret or personal matters) in confidence (to); reveal in private (to)

2. to have complete trust

3. (tr) to entrust into another's keeping

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Other Word Forms

• confider noun
• preconfide verb
• unconfided adjective
• well-confided adjective

Etymology

Origin of confide

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin confīdere, from con- con- + fīdere “to trust” (akin to fidēs “faith, trust”; fidelity )

Example Sentences

De Rothschild confided to Epstein about problems in her marriage and the family dynasty, and frequently shared what appeared to be confidential information about her bank’s financial performance and strategy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Always there for him to confide in, complain to and entrust with his continually evolving thoughts on Jewish life and theology, Kaplan called these ledger-size handwritten volumes his “communings of the spirit.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“School should be a place where young people can feel safe and confident they can confide in a teacher.”

From Los Angeles Times

Lord, I prayed silently, if it is not safe to confide in Fred, stop this conversation now before it is too late.

From Literature

Until then, we had confided in one another very little.

From Literature

Related Words

• admit
• confess
• disclose
• impart
• reveal
• suggest
• whisper