trusting

American  

[truhs-ting] / ˈtrʌs tɪŋ /

adjective

1. inclined to trust; confiding; trustful.

   a trusting child.

   Synonyms:

   unwary, naive, innocent, unsuspicious

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Other Word Forms

• nontrusting adjective
• self-trusting adjective
• trustingly adverb
• trustingness noun
• untrusting adjective

Etymology

Origin of trusting

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; trust + -ing ²

Explanation

If you're trusting, you tend to believe what people tell you. A trusting friend will tell you her deepest secrets and trust that you'll keep them to yourself. Use the adjective trusting to describe people who always see the best in others. A trusting child believes everything you tell him and follows where you lead. A trusting dog will follow your commands and stick by your side. The verb trust means "to believe or have faith," and both words come from the Old Norse traust, "help or confidence," and are closely related to the Old English treowe, "have faith or confidence."

Example Sentences

It’s less about precision, more about momentum — building flavor in layers and trusting that it will meet me there.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

Warsh draws a parallel to Alan Greenspan’s decision in the late 1990s External link to let the economy run hot, trusting that productivity gains would keep inflation in check.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

A Harvard-educated attorney and Vanderbilt heiress, Burden, 56, writes candidly about how she ceded control of her finances to her ex during their 20-year marriage, trusting him to act in her best interests.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

"Sometimes things unfold in ways we don't fully control, but I'm trusting the bigger picture," the 23-year-old Swiss-Ghanian singer said at the time.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

She most certainly didn't want Brigit to make her escape when the Headmarvellers were trusting her and her parents to look after Brigit.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton