trust

TRUST/tɹʌst/

Pluraltrusts (some meanings)

Verbtrusts, trusting, trusted

17 meanings of trust

Practice

1
noununcountable
A feeling that you can believe in and depend on someone or something.
Like leaning back on a chair because you know it will hold you up.
It took years to build trust between the two teams.
She lost all trust in him after the lie.
UsageSay trust in someone. You build or lose trust.
Similarconfidence, faith, belief, reliance
Oppositedistrust, mistrust, suspicion, doubt
2
verbtransitive
To believe that someone or something is honest, good, or reliable, and to depend on them.
Like handing your house key to a friend because you know they will be careful.
You can trust her to keep a secret.
She trusts her doctor because he always tells her the truth.
UsageYou trust someone, or trust them to do something.
Oppositedistrust, mistrust, doubt, suspect
Note
3
nouncountable
A legal arrangement where one person looks after money or property for the benefit of someone else.
Like asking a careful friend to hold your savings until you are old enough to use them.
Her grandparents set up a trust to pay for college.
The money stays in a trust until he turns eighteen.
UsageYou set up a trust, and money is held in trust.
Note
4
believe claimsverbtransitive
To believe that what someone says is true.
Like believing a weather report and leaving your umbrella at home.
Don't trust everything you read online.
Nobody trusted his story about the missing money.
Similarbelieve, credit, accept
Oppositedoubt, disbelieve, question
Note
5
expectverbtransitive
To hope strongly that something is true or will happen.
Like being sure your friend will show up because they always do.
I trust you had a safe trip home.
We trust everything will go well tomorrow.
UsageSay I trust + what you hope: I trust you are well.
Similarhope, expect, assume, presume, believe
Note
6
take my wordinterjectionslangabbreviationellipsis
Short way of saying trust me. Used to tell someone you mean what you say.
Trust, you don't want to miss this party.
She's the real deal, trust.
UsagePut it at the end: it's good, trust.
Note
7
verbtransitive
To rely on someone enough to put something important in their care.
Like handing your phone to a friend, sure they will keep it safe.
I trust my neighbor with a spare key to our home.
They trusted their babysitter with the children all weekend.
UsageYou trust someone with your keys.
Similarentrust, charge
Note

Less common meanings

8
business groupnouncountable
A large group of companies joined together to control an industry and reduce competition.
Like several shops teaming up so no one else can sell the same goods.
The oil trust controlled almost every refinery in the country.
Lawmakers broke up the giant trust to protect smaller businesses.
Similarcartel, monopoly, syndicate, combine, conglomerate
Note
9
nouncountable or uncountable
A duty to look after something given to you, a job with that duty, or the thing itself.
Like being made captain of a team and having to look after everyone.
She holds a position of great trust at the bank.
Caring for her grandmother's house was a trust she took seriously.
UsageSay a position of trust: a job where people rely on you.
Similarresponsibility, duty, charge
Note
10
nounrareuncountable
The quality of being someone people can count on.
Similarreliability, dependability, integrity
11
on creditnoununcountable
The belief that a customer will pay later for goods given now.
Like a friend lending you lunch money because they know you will pay it back.
The shopkeeper let regular customers buy food on trust.
Back then, the corner store sold goods on trust until payday.
UsageSay you buy something on trust and pay later.
Similarcredit
Note
12
computer accessnoununcountable
In computers, the confidence that a user, program, or system really is what it claims to be.
Like a key card that opens only the doors you're allowed to enter.
The system grants trust only to verified accounts.
The browser gave a warning because it could not place any trust in the site's certificate.
Note
13
verbarchaictransitive
To risk something by putting it in someone else's care or leaving it to chance.
[Beguiled] by thee to trust thee from my side.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, trust means risk letting someone go, trusting them to chance.
Note
14
adjectiveobsolete
Loyal and able to be depended on.
Note
15
adjectiveobsolete
Safe and free from danger.
Note
16
nounarchaic
A person or thing you depend on for help or hope.
O Lord God, thou art my trust from my youth.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version
17
verbdated
To let someone take goods now and pay for them later.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of trust apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Middle English trust, meaning trust or protection. It goes back to an old Germanic root and ultimately to a word meaning to be firm or solid.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Trust comes from Middle English trust, meaning trust or protection. en.wiktionary.org
Trust goes back to an old Germanic root. en.wiktionary.org
Trust ultimately derives from a word meaning to be firm or solid. en.wiktionary.org