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

Interim head coach Twila Kilgore had entrusted relative newcomers in her tournament squad, and the group stage results were entirely underwhelming. —Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024

There has been a lot of hand-wringing about the end of limited-government conservatism, but the president-elect has also entrusted Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a nongovernmental advisory group on slashing bureaucracy. —Dominic Pino, National Review, 19 Dec. 2024

The agency entrusted the task to SpaceX. Elon Musk's company launched the Crew-9 mission in September to, among other things, return Williams and Wilmore. —Fernanda González, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024

And have you been entrusted to make it for your family? —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 18 Dec. 2024

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