noun, verb

trust

/TRUST/ trust 1 syllable

A firm belief in someone's reliability and honesty.

Word facts

Part of speech noun, verb
Syllables 1
Letters 5
Starts with T

Definition

Trust is a firm belief in the honesty, reliability, or ability of someone or something. As a verb, to trust means to rely on someone with confidence.

Usage: Trust is often described as earned rather than given. Trustworthy means deserving of trust. Faith and trust are similar but faith often carries a religious or deeper personal sense.

Example sentences

  1. 1

    She trusted him completely because he had never let her down.

  2. 2

    Building trust takes time but can be broken in a moment.

  3. 3

    Trust your instincts when the evidence is unclear.

Word family

adjective trustworthy
adjective trustful
noun / verb distrust
noun / verb mistrust
Word origin

From Old Norse traust ('confidence, help'), from traustr ('strong, confident'). Related to true — trust is confidence that something is true and dependable.

Memory tip

Trust and true share the same root. You trust what you believe to be true and dependable.

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FAQ

Questions people ask

What does trustworthy mean?

Trustworthy means deserving of trust — consistently honest, reliable, and dependable.

What is the difference between trust and faith?

Trust is typically based on evidence or experience. Faith often involves belief without full evidence, and carries spiritual or religious connotations.