If you have confidencein someone, you feel that you can trust them.
I have every confidence in you. [+ in]
This has contributed to the lack of confidence in the police. [+ in]
His record on ceasefires inspires no confidence.
Synonyms: trust, belief, faith, dependence More Synonyms of confidence
2. uncountable noun
If you have confidence, you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
The band is on excellent form and brimming with confidence.
I always thought the worst of myself and had no confidence whatsoever.
Synonyms: self-assurance, courage, assurance, aplomb More Synonyms of confidence
3. uncountable noun [usu withN]
If you can say something withconfidence, you feel certain it is correct.
I can say with confidence that such rumours were totally groundless.
4. uncountable noun [usually inNOUN]
If you tell someone something inconfidence, you tell them a secret.
We told you all these things in confidence.
Even telling Lois seemed a betrayal of confidence.
See take sb into one's confidence
5. countable noun
A confidence is a secret that you tell someone.
Gregory shared confidences with Carmen.
6. See also vote of no confidence
More Synonyms of confidence
confidence in British English
(ˈkɒnfɪdəns)
noun
1.
a feeling of trust in a person or thing
I have confidence in his abilities
2.
belief in one's own abilities; self-assurance
3.
trust or a trustful relationship
take me into your confidence
4.
something confided or entrusted; secret
5. in confidence
confidence in American English
(ˈkɑnfədəns)
noun
1.
firm belief; trust; reliance
2.
the fact of being or feeling certain; assurance
3.
belief in one's own abilities; self-confidence
4.
a relationship as confidant
take me into your confidence
5.
the belief that another will keep a secret; assurance of secrecy
told in strict confidence
6.
something told as a secret
7. Bible
object of trust: Prov. 3:26
adjective US
8.
swindling or used to swindle
SIMILAR WORDS: beˈlief
SYNONYMY NOTE: confidence, in this comparison, implies belief in one's own abilities, or, esp. in the form, self-confidence, reliance on one's own powers [he has confidence he will win]; assurance, in this connection, suggests an even stronger belief in one's ability, but in anunfavorable sense, it may connote (as may , confidence) conceited or arrogant self-sufficiency; , self-possession suggests that presence of mind which results from the ability to control one's feelingsand behavior; , aplomb refers, usually in a favorable sense, to an evident assurance of manner manifestingself-possession [he stood his ground with admirable aplomb]
OPPOSITES: diffidence, shyness
Word origin
ME < L confidentia < confidens, prp. of confide
COBUILD Collocations
confidence
body confidence
bolster confidence
build confidence
business confidence
confidence is sky-high
damage confidence
erode confidence
exude confidence
fragile confidence
inner confidence
maintain confidence
ooze confidence
public confidence
rebuild confidence
retain confidence
supreme confidence
Examples of 'confidence' in a sentence
confidence
Maybe he can think of a better way to restore your confidence in his love.
The Sun (2009)
In the ranks there was great confidence.
Philip Marsden The Barefoot Emperor: An Ethiopian Tragedy (2007)
She blames it on a lack of confidence but promises it will be different soon.
The Sun (2012)
That lack of confidence in the police is largely justified.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This safeguard inspires public confidence in the constitution.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
See if he is able and keen to restore your lost confidence.
The Sun (2013)
There is little confidence that government will put it right.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The victims told police of their horrific abuse but were not given the confidence to testify.
The Sun (2013)
Sources played down reports that a motion of no confidence would be brought against him.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Those who are fit seem devoid of form and confidence.
The Sun (2016)
Surely experience and confidence count for something.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The public was beginning to lose confidence in it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The readiness of patients to pay for treatment was a vote of confidence in its service.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We have a very diverse charity sector that enjoys high public trust and confidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Your confidence is boosted because family loyalty is there for you.
The Sun (2013)
There is evidence that the publicity surrounding some controversial tax cases has further undermined confidence in business.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She blames it on a lack of confidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She has no confidence in the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The record of the chemical industry does not inspire confidence.
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
He had to draw incapacity benefit and lost confidence.
The Sun (2009)
The moon of love gives you the confidence to simply give a relationship time.
The Sun (2012)
It is now time to rebuild trust and confidence between government and teachers so that improvements can endure.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The usual stresses and strains of love can undermine a person 's confidence.
The Sun (2014)
We have had five consecutive 3-0 victories in qualifying and that has given us great confidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
confidence
British English: confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ NOUN
trust If you have confidence in someone, you feel you can trust them.
I have every confidence in you.
American English: confidence trust
Arabic: ثِقَة
Brazilian Portuguese: confiança
Chinese: 信心
Croatian: povjerenje
Czech: důvěra
Danish: tiltro 2 defs are swapped
Dutch: vertrouwen
European Spanish: confianza
Finnish: itseluottamus
French: confiance en soi
German: Selbstvertrauen
Greek: αυτοπεποίθηση
Italian: fiducia
Japanese: 自信 self-assurance
Korean: 자신감
Norwegian: selvtillit
Polish: pewność
European Portuguese: confiança
Romanian: încredere
Russian: уверенность
Latin American Spanish: confianza
Swedish: självförtroende
Thai: ความไว้เนื้อเชื่อใจ
Turkish: özgüven
Ukrainian: довіра
Vietnamese: sự tin tưởng
British English: confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ NOUN
self-assurance If you have confidence, you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
The team was full of confidence.
American English: confidence self-assurance
Arabic: ثِقَة
Brazilian Portuguese: confiança
Chinese: 信赖
Croatian: samopouzdanje
Czech: sebejistota
Danish: selvtillid 2 defs are swapped
Dutch: zelfvertrouwen
European Spanish: seguridad en sí mismo
Finnish: luottamus
French: confiance
German: Vertrauen
Greek: εμπιστοσύνη
Italian: fiducia in se stessi
Japanese: 信頼 trust
Korean: 신뢰
Norwegian: tillit
Polish: zaufanie
European Portuguese: confiança
Romanian: încredere
Russian: самоуверенность
Latin American Spanish: confianza
Swedish: förtroende
Thai: ความมั่นใจ
Turkish: güven
Ukrainian: впевненість
Vietnamese: sự tự tin
British English: confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ NOUN
secret If you tell someone something in confidence, you tell them a secret.
We told you all these things in confidence.
American English: confidence secret
Arabic: ثِقَة
Brazilian Portuguese: confidência
Chinese: 机密
Croatian: povjerljivost
Czech: důvěrnost
Danish: betroelse
Dutch: geheim
European Spanish: confianza
Finnish: luottamuksellinen tieto
French: confidence
German: vertrauliche Mitteilung
Greek: εμπιστευτικότητα
Italian: confidenza
Japanese: 秘密 secret
Korean: 비밀
Norwegian: betroelse
Polish: zwierzenie
European Portuguese: confidência
Romanian: confidență
Russian: секрет
Latin American Spanish: confidencia
Swedish: förtroende
Thai: ความเชื่อใจ
Turkish: sır
Ukrainian: конфіденційність
Vietnamese: bí mật
All related terms of 'confidence'
in confidence
as a secret
no-confidence
If members of an organization pass a vote or motion of no-confidence in someone, they take a vote which shows that they no longer support that person or their ideas .
body confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
confidence game
A confidence game is the same as a → confidence trick .
confidence man
A confidence man is a man who persuades people to give him their money or property by lying to them.
confidence vote
a vote to clarify whether someone or something has the support of those present
ooze confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities , qualities, or ideas .
self-confidence
If you have self-confidence , you behave confidently because you feel sure of your abilities or value.
bolster confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
build confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities , qualities, or ideas .
confidence booster
A booster is something that increases a positive or desirable quality.
confidence level
a measure of the reliability of a result. A confidence level of 95 per cent or 0.95 means that there is a probability of at least 95 per cent that the result is reliable
confidence trick
A confidence trick is a trick in which someone deceives you by telling you something that is not true , often to trick you out of money.
damage confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
erode confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas .
exude confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas .
fragile confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
inner confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
public confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
rebuild confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
retain confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
supreme confidence
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
business confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
confidence interval
an interval of values bounded by confidence limits within which the true value of a population parameter is stated to lie with a specified probability
confidence trickster
A confidence trickster is someone who persuades people to give them their money or property by lying to them.
consumer confidence
a measure of consumers ' optimism in the state of an economy as reflected in their spending behaviour
maintain confidence
If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them.
vote of confidence
A vote of confidence is a vote in which members of a group are asked to indicate that they still support the person or group in power, usually the government.
confidence and supply
denoting an arrangement in a hung parliament in which an opposition party agrees not to vote against a minority government in votes of confidence or budgetary matters but reserves the right to oppose other legislation
crisis of confidence
a serious loss of confidence
vote of no confidence
A vote of no confidence is a vote in which members of a group are asked to indicate that they do not support the person or group in power, usually the government.
confidence is sky-high
If you have confidence , you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas.
vote of non-confidence
a vote or motion in a legislative body censuring an aspect of or indicating a lack of majority support for a government policy
con trick
a swindle involving money, goods, etc, in which the victim's trust is won by the swindler
take sb into one's confidence
If you take someone into your confidence , you tell them a secret .
con man
A con man is a man who persuades people to give him their money or property by lying to them.
Chinese translation of 'confidence'
confidence
(ˈkɔnfɪdns)
n
(u) (= faith) 信赖(賴) (xìnlài)
(u) (= self-assurance) 自信 (zìxìn)
(c) (= secret) 秘(祕)密 (mìmì) (个(個), gè)
to have (every) confidence in sb/sth对(對)某人/某事(很)有信心 (duì mǒurén/mǒushì (hěn) yǒu xìnxīn)
to have (every) confidence that ... 对(對) ... (很)有信心 (duì ... (hěn) yǒu xìnxīn)
to take sb into one's confidence把某人作为(為)知心人 (bǎ mǒurén zuòwéi zhīxīnrén)
in confidence[speak, say, write etc]秘(祕)密地 (mìmì de)
All related terms of 'confidence'
in confidence
( speak, say, write etc ) 秘(祕)密地 mìmì de
self-confidence
自信心 zìxìnxīn
I have every confidence in him
我对(對)他有十足的信心 wǒ duì tā yǒu shízú de xìnxīn
to sap sb's strength/confidence
使某人筋疲力尽(盡)/挫伤(傷)某人的自信心 shǐ mǒurén jīn pí lì jìn/cuòshāng mǒurén de zìxìnxīn
to take sb into one's confidence
把某人作为(為)知心人 bǎ mǒurén zuòwéi zhīxīnrén
to tell sb sth in the strictest confidence
极(極)秘(祕)密地将(將)某事告诉(訴)某人 jí mìmì de jiāng mǒushì gàosu mǒurén