entrust
To assign the responsibility for doing something to someone, or to put something of value into someone's care, with full confidence in their integrity.
This word carries a heavy emotional and moral weight. It is not just about giving a task; it is about placing your faith, safety, or valuable possessions in someone else's hands.
Word relationships
- confide: 'Confide' usually refers to trusting someone with a secret or private thoughts, whereas 'entrust' refers to physical objects, duties, or lives.
- commend: 'Commend' is a formal, slightly archaic term for handing something over to someone's care or protection.
- withhold: 'Withhold' means to refuse to give or share something, keeping it out of another's hands due to lack of trust.
- suspect: 'Suspect' implies a complete lack of trust, viewing someone with doubt or apprehension.
Commonly confused with
- trust: 'Trust' is the state of mind or belief in someone's reliability, while 'entrust' is the physical or formal action of handing something over based on that trust.
Word family
- entrustment (noun): The act of giving someone a duty or putting something in their care.
Collocations
- entrust with a task
- entrust to someone's care
- entrust a secret
- blindly entrust
Example sentences
- "Before departing for the war, the merchant decided to entrust his entire estate to his most loyal companion." A classic novel describing family inheritance.
Memory hook
Simply look at the word: 'en-' (make/put) + 'trust'. You put your trust into action by giving them the keys. Put trust into action.
When not to use
Do not use for trivial, routine administrative tasks where trust is not a primary factor (e.g., 'I entrusted him to print the copies' sounds overly dramatic; use 'asked' or 'delegated').
Fun facts
- The word 'trust' is etymologically related to 'true' and 'tree' (suggesting something firm, strong, and reliable like an oak tree).
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