grow confident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grow confident" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of becoming more self-assured or gaining confidence over time. Example: "Through practice and experience, she began to grow confident in her public speaking abilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Finger snaps, tentative at first, grow confident, even insolent.

The New York Times - Arts

When one player makes it to the league, others grow confident that they can follow.

The New York Times - Sports

Viewers see kids like themselves who grow confident in helping others, while dodging know-it-all adults.

University of California, Berkeley

As the campaign progressed, though, he and the others began to grow confident that the zombies might be vanquished.

The New Yorker

Two years later, I'm starting to grow confident that my gamble on getting a degree in creative writing paid off.

The Guardian - Opinion

She thinks that things must've gone Mariah's way; she has never had to doubt, & so she has never had to grow confident.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Inspired by everyone's confidence, we grew confident.

The New Yorker

They grew confident as a couple.

The New York Times

I grew confident and felt loved.

The New York Times

Salo said Krayzelburg was growing confident.

The New York Times - Sports

Ms. Clark is growing confident about her employment future.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grow confident" to describe a gradual increase in self-assurance or certainty, often resulting from experience or positive reinforcement. For instance, "As she practiced more, she began to "grow confident" in her abilities."

Common error

Avoid using "grow confident" when the situation calls for immediate or already established confidence. Instead, consider phrases like "demonstrate confidence" or "exude confidence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grow confident" functions as a verb phrase acting as a predicate, describing the process of increasing one's self-assurance or certainty. Ludwig AI examples show its use across varied contexts to illustrate a gradual development of confidence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

13%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

19%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grow confident" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to depict a gradual increase in self-assurance or certainty. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase functions as a predicate describing a developing psychological state. It is appropriate for various contexts, as demonstrated by its presence in both formal academic papers and informal news articles. While similar phrases such as "develop confidence" and "become more confident" exist, "grow confident" particularly emphasizes the gradual, organic nature of increasing one's belief in their abilities. Be mindful of overstating confidence in situations requiring immediate assurance, instead consider other options like "demonstrate confidence" or "exude confidence".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become more confident

Adds "more" to emphasize a comparative increase in confidence.

gain confidence

Emphasizes the act of acquiring confidence rather than the process of growth.

develop confidence

Uses the noun form of "confident" and replaces "grow" with "develop".

become self-assured

Replaces "grow" with "become" and "confident" with a synonym, "self-assured".

cultivate confidence

Implies a deliberate and nurtured development of confidence.

build self-esteem

Focuses on improving one's overall self-image and worth.

find assurance

Highlights the discovery of inner certainty and conviction.

acquire poise

Focuses on gaining composure and grace, which can contribute to confidence.

flourish in confidence

Suggests a thriving state of self-assurance.

evolve into confidence

Conveys a gradual and natural progression toward greater confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "grow confident" in a sentence?

You can use "grow confident" to describe a process of becoming more self-assured over time. For example: "The more she practiced, the more she started to "grow confident" in her skills."

What phrases are similar to "grow confident"?

Alternatives to "grow confident" include "develop confidence", "become more confident", or "gain confidence", all expressing a similar increase in self-assurance.

Is it better to say "grow in confidence" or "grow confident"?

"Grow confident" is a more direct way to express the idea of becoming more self-assured. "Grow in confidence" is also acceptable, but it's slightly less concise.

What's the difference between "grow confident" and "become confident"?

While both phrases express a similar meaning, "grow confident" suggests a gradual, organic process, whereas "become confident" can imply a more immediate or decisive shift in self-assurance.