Word
confident
Phoneticscon·fi·dent, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑnfədənt/
UK/kˈɒnfɪdənt/
Definitions
01self-assured
B1 · Intermediate
adj. feeling sure of your own abilities and worth.
adj. possessing or showing self-assurance and belief in one's own abilities.
“She felt confident about the job interview because she had prepared well.”
“The candidate appeared remarkably confident during the debate, answering even the most aggressive questions with poise and clarity.”
02certain of a fact
B1 · Intermediate
adj. feeling sure that something is true or will happen.
adj. having a strong belief or full assurance in the truth of a statement or the certainty of an event.
“The scientists are confident that the new medicine will work.”
“Despite the initial setbacks, the lead engineer remained confident of a successful launch before the end of the fiscal year.”
Pitfall
I am confident to win the game.
I am confident that I will win the game.
Use a 'that' clause or 'of/about' after confident, rather than an infinitive verb, when expressing certainty about an outcome.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “confident” in context.
Verb
01. appear confident
“It is important to appear confident when you are giving a presentation to a large group.”
verb + adj
02. become confident
“She became more confident after she started practicing her English every day.”
verb + adj
03. feel confident
“I feel confident about my upcoming job interview because I prepared well.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. confident in
“You need to be confident in your own abilities to succeed in this business.”
adj + prep
05. confident to
“He was confident to speak in front of the audience without any notes.”
adj + infinitive
06. very confident
“The team is very confident that they will win the championship this year.”
adv + adj
Adverb
07. extremely confident
“The manager is extremely confident that the new project will be a success.”
adv + adj
08. quietly confident
“Although she didn't say much, she was quietly confident about her exam results.”
adv + adj
Confusables
Confident describes a person's self-assurance, while confidential describes information that must be kept secret.
RememberConfident is a feeling; confidential is a secret.
Etymology
From Middle French confident, from Latin confidens (“confident, i.e. self-confident, in a good or bad sense, bold, daring, audacious, impudent”), present participle of confidere (“to trust fully, confide”). See confide.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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