confident
/ˈkɒn.fɪ.dənt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Feeling sure about yourself, your ability, or what will happen. A confident person usually seems calm and self-assured.
- She is confident in interviews.
- He gave a confident answer.
- I feel confident about the exam.
- 2.
Certain that something is true or will happen. This use is common in formal and academic writing.
- We are confident of success.
- The doctor was confident about the diagnosis.
- She sounded confident that he would agree.
Adinary Nuance
Confident is about feeling sure and calm. It is stronger and more positive than sure, which can sound simple and factual. It is different from cocky or arrogant, which suggest too much pride. In formal writing, confident often means “certain,” especially in phrases like “confident of success.”
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tự tin
- Spanish
- seguro
- Chinese
- 自信
- Japanese
- 自信のある
- Korean
- 자신감 있는
Etymology
Confident came into English in the 16th century from French confident, based on Latin confident- meaning “trusting” or “bold.” The idea behind the word is strong trust or certainty.
Common phrases
confident smileconfident answerconfident of successfeel confident
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is confident a positive word?
- Yes. It usually sounds positive and shows self-belief or certainty.
- What is the difference between confident and sure?
- Sure is more general. Confident often suggests calm self-belief or strong certainty.
- Can I say confident in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in essays, reports, and business writing.
- How do I use confident with a person?
- You can say someone is confident in speaking, interviews, or social situations.