1. Certain That Conditions Will Improve

I don't know about you, but that is not the first definition I thought I would find under "confident". This proves that being confident is more than just being sure of one's self. It is believing that things will get better. But that's just one definition of what does it mean to be confident.

2. Having or Showing Assurance and Self-reliance

The most important part of that definition is the "or". You can have self-confidence and self-reliance OR you can show self-confidence and self-reliance. Fake it until you make it. That's what should be taken away from this definition.

You can second-guess yourself or not completely believe in your decisions but, on the outside, you have to commit. When you decide you're going to do something, do it. I think I may be watching too much OG "America's Next Top Model". That show gets a lot of hate but Ms. Tyra Banks is right. You can't blame the world for your problems or make excuses, you have to own up to your decisions and outcomes.

3. Having a Feeling or Belief That You Can do Something Well or Succeed at Something

This definition is interesting because this is the definition for people learning English. It is a feeling. It is a belief. Being confident is taking a sentence like: I believe that I am confident in this decision. And making it into: "I am confident in this decision." Everything that comes out of your mouth is a belief or a feeling. It is not concrete. It is not a fact until there is something to back it up.

4. Having or Showing Sureness and Optimism

This is a definition for students. Note that there is an "or" again. This once again stresses that you don't necessarily have to be confident to show confidence.

The Merriam-Webster website goes further in-depth on the origin of "confident" and some examples of how the word has been used in 2018. But more importantly, it shows that words change and their meanings change. They are not black-and-white.

Link: merriam-webster.com