entrust
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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(usually foll by with) to invest or charge (with a duty, responsibility, etc)
-
(often foll by to) to put into the care or protection of someone
Usage
It is usually considered incorrect to talk about entrusting someone to do something: the army cannot be trusted (not entrusted ) to carry out orders
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have entrustedperfect
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has entrustedperfect 3rd person singular
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am entrustingprogressive 1st person singular
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are entrustingprogressive
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is entrustingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been entrustingperfect progressive
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has been entrustingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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entrustingparticiple
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entrustssingular 3rd person
Past
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had entrustedperfect
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were entrustingprogressive plural
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had been entrustingperfect progressive
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entrustedparticiple
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was entrustingprogressive singular
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entrustedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of entrust
Explanation
To entrust is to give someone a responsibility you assume she will fulfill. If you entrust someone with the task of getting you to school on time, make sure she’s punctual. To entrust is to let someone take care of something for you because you believe she will protect it. It could be a duty or a thing — you might entrust a nursing home with the care of your parents or entrust an accountant with your finances. Entrust is a verb that needs an object, so you always entrust with or to something. If a friend entrusts you with a secret, she trusts you not to tell.
Vocabulary lists containing entrust
myPerspectives 9.2
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President Obama's second inaugural address
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
America’s Founders and Adam Smith knew better than to entrust the future to philosopher-kings.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Murrin’s case highlights pitfalls that lurk when people entrust someone with their taxes, according to Olson.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026
When we entrust digital platforms with our biometric data, we hand over unique, irreplaceable biological identifiers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
But his absence left USC to entrust defensive line coach Eric Henderson to step into a role he wasn’t expecting.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025
“My son is ill,” Mr. Derby said to the doctor, “so I’ll entrust to you the transactions for the sale of these three.”
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
