entrust

verb

en·​trust in-ˈtrəst 

en-

variants or less commonly intrust

in-ˈtrəst 

entrusted also intrusted; entrusting also intrusting; entrusts also intrusts

transitive verb

1

: to confer a trust on

especially : to deliver something in trust to

2

: to commit to another with confidence

entrustment

in-ˈtrəs(t)-mənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms

• assign
• charge
• commission
• task
• trust

Choose the Right Synonym for entrust

commit, entrust, confide, consign, relegate mean to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose.

commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Examples of entrust in a Sentence

She was entrusted with the job of organizing the reception.

we entrusted our financial adviser with the investment of all of our savings

Recent Examples on the Web

Clients and insiders paid handsomely to entrust their funds to Simons. —Patrick Oster, Fortune, 10 May 2024

On paper, Gosling’s turn as a CIA operative named Six who is entrusted with protecting a tween girl from an unhinged assassin should be, if not amazing, at least watchable. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 May 2024

Confiding your concerns about his stress and possible depression is one thing, but entrusting children (no matter how old) with deeply personal relationship issues between parents is tricky. —Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2024

And as the voters preparing to head to the polls well know, the elites who have thrived in this broken system cannot be entrusted to repair it. —Sheila S. Coronel, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

entrust

verb

en·​trust in-ˈtrəst 

1

: to give into the care of another

entrust your savings to a bank

2

: to give custody, care, or charge of something to

entrust a bank with your savings

entrustment

-ˈtrəs(t)-mənt 

noun

Legal Definition

entrust

transitive verb

en·​trust

variants also intrust

1

: to deliver something to (a person) under a charge or duty

2

: to give (something) over to the care of another

specifically : to deliver to a merchant who may transfer ownership to a buyer in the ordinary course of business

—used especially in the Uniform Commercial Code see also negligent entrustment compare bail, consign

entrustment noun