Definition

1. Verb:
   • To give someone a thing or a duty for which they are responsible: To assign the responsibility for something to someone, often implying trust in their care or judgment.
   • To put something into someone's care or protection: To place something valuable or important under someone's safekeeping.

Usage and Examples

• Basic Usage:

  • The manager decided to entrust the project to her most reliable team. (The manager gave the responsibility for the project to her team.)
  • Parents entrust their children to teachers every day. (Parents place their children in the care of teachers.)
  • He entrusted his savings to a reputable bank. (He put his savings under the protection of a bank.)

• Common Constructions:

  • entrust something to someone: She entrusted the secret documents to her assistant.
  • entrust someone with something: They entrusted the lawyer with their legal affairs.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Implies Confidence: Using "entrust" strongly suggests faith, confidence, or trust in the person receiving the responsibility. It is more than just assigning a task.
  • The dying king entrusted the prince with the future of the kingdom. (This implies deep trust and a solemn duty.)
• Formal and Legal Contexts: The word is often used in formal, business, or legal situations.
  • The client entrusted the firm with a large sum of money for investment.

Variants and Related Words

• Entrustment (noun): The act of entrusting or the state of being entrusted.
  • The entrustment of such sensitive data requires strict protocols.
• Trust (verb/noun): While "trust" is a broader term meaning to believe in someone's reliability, "entrust" specifically means to responsibility based on that trust.

Synonyms

• Delegate: To give part of one's work or power to someone else (often used for tasks/authority).
• Confide: To tell someone a secret or private matter while trusting them not to repeat it (often used for information/secrets).
• Commit: To give in charge or trust (can be used for abstract concepts like "commit one's soul to God").

Phrasal Verbs / Common Phrases

• To be entrusted with: This is the most common passive construction.
  • She was entrusted with the key to the safe.
• Entrust to one's care: A formal phrase emphasizing protection.
  • The precious artifact was entrusted to the museum's care.

Related Idioms

• To leave in someone's (capable) hands: An informal idiom similar in meaning to "entrust."
  • I'm leaving the organization of the event in your capable hands.

Verb

1. put into the care or protection of someone
   • He left the decision to his deputy
   • leave your child the nurse's care
2. confer a trust upon
   • The messenger was entrusted with the general's secret
   • I commit my soul to God