# confide

/kənˈfaɪd/ (US) · /kənfˈaɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confide
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to tell a secret to someone you trust. You use this when you want to share something private with a friend.

For teachers: to reveal a secret or private information to someone in confidence. Transitive — requires a direct object and often a prepositional phrase indicating the recipient.

## Examples

- She decided to confide in her best friend about the problem.
- He felt comfortable enough to confide in his lawyer about the financial difficulties he was facing.
- The diplomat chose to confide in a trusted colleague rather than risk the information being leaked to the press during the sensitive negotiations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.