confide

[kuhn-fahyd]

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.

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of confide¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of confide¹

C15: from Latin confīdere, from fīdere to trust; related to Latin foedus treaty

Example Sentences

They were less likely to strike up conversations with classmates or confide in dormmates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“During their relationship, Schmidt confided that when he worked at Google, he built an insider “backdoor” to Google servers with a team of Google engineers in order to spy on Google employees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They were comfortable confiding in one another to the point of calling the war “already a lost cause for Germany,” as Kiep put it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She paused, but her instinct told her it was all right to confide in her new acquaintance.

Read more on Literature

“I always feel better when I can see the stars,” he confided to Penelope.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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