Word
confuse
Phoneticscon·fuse, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈfjuz/
UK/kənfjˈuːz/
Definitions
01to puzzle someone
B1 · Intermediate
v. to make it difficult for someone to understand something.
v. to perplex or bewilder someone by being complex, contradictory, or unclear.
日本語:混乱する※
“The new road signs are very small and they confuse many drivers.”
“The technical jargon in the manual served only to confuse the new recruits, who were already struggling with the software's interface.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice to describe a mental state: 'I am confused.'
Pitfall
The instructions are very confused.
The instructions are very confusing.
Use 'confusing' to describe the thing that causes the problem, and 'confused' to describe how a person feels.
02to mix up two things
B1 · Intermediate
v. to mistake one person or thing for another.
v. to fail to distinguish between two or more people or things; to muddle items in one's mind.
日本語:間違える※
Español:confundir
“I always confuse the twins because they look and sound exactly the same.”
“Inexperienced collectors often confuse this common variety of quartz with the much rarer and more valuable white topaz.”
Usage
Typically follows the pattern 'confuse A with B' or 'confuse A and B'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “confuse” in context.
Verb
01. confuse him for his brother
“People often confuse him for his twin brother because they look so similar.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. confuse the reader with details
“The author managed to confuse the reader with too many technical details in the first chapter.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. confuse the two issues
“Please try not to confuse the two issues, as they are completely different problems.”
verb + noun
Preposition
04. confuse with the facts
“Don't confuse me with the facts; I have already made up my mind!”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
05. easily confuse the dates
“You can easily confuse the dates if you don't write them down in your calendar.”
adv + verb
06. frequently confuse the names
“New students frequently confuse the names of the different campus buildings.”
adv + verb
Etymology
Back-formation from confused, from Middle English confused (“frustrated, ruined”), from Anglo-Norman confus, from Latin cōnfūsus, past participle of cōnfundō.
From Middle English confus, from Old French confus, from Latin cōnfūsus, past participle of cōnfundō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/confuse
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0