To confuse means to mix things up in your mind so you're not sure what's right or true. When you confuse two math formulas, you might use the wrong one to solve a problem. When a tricky question confuses you on a test, you can't quite figure out what it's asking.

You can also confuse other people by explaining something poorly or giving them wrong information. If you give confusing directions, your friend might end up at the wrong house. A magician deliberately tries to confuse the audience about where the card went or how the trick works.

When someone says “I'm confused,” they're admitting they don't understand something clearly yet. Good teachers watch for confused faces in their classroom and know to explain things differently.

The feeling of being confused is temporary. With more information, careful thinking, or a better explanation, confusion often clears up. Sometimes you just need to slow down and separate the ideas that got tangled together.