confidence */*/*/

UK [ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)ns] / US [ˈkɑnfɪdəns] noun
Word forms "confidence":
singular confidence plural confidences

1) [uncountable] the belief that you are able to do things well

have confidence:

He's a nice boy, but he doesn't have much confidence.

confidence in:

You should have more confidence in your own abilities.

give someone confidence:

Motherhood gave her confidence.

gain/lose confidence:

The more he fails, the more he loses confidence in his abilities.

lack the confidence to do something:

He would lack the confidence to find a job elsewhere.

2) [uncountable] the belief that someone or something is good and that you can trust them

confidence in:

Public confidence in the police is at an all-time low.

have confidence:

I have complete confidence in our chairman.

lose confidence:

Many businesses have lost confidence in the government's ability to handle the economy.

restore confidence:

We must work to restore local confidence in the school.

As has already been suggested, their record does not inspire confidence.

3) [uncountable] if you have confidence that something is true, you feel certain that it is true

have confidence in:

I have complete confidence in these statistics.

with confidence:

I can say with confidence that all our targets have now been met.

confidence that:

He expressed his confidence that the project would be a success.

4) [countable] a secret that you tell someone

•

gain/get someone's confidence — to make someone feel that they can trust you

You need to gain the horse's confidence.

- in confidence

- take someone into your confidence