Entrusted
/ɪnˈtrʌstɪd/
verbB2past tense, past participle
Definition
To entrust means to give someone something important, like a task, object, or secret, because you trust them to handle it carefully and responsibly. It often involves confidence that the person will protect or manage what they receive.
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⚡ See It in Action
To give responsibility or care of something valuable to someone trusted
- •She entrusted her friend with the keys to her apartment.
- •The manager entrusted the assistant with important documents.
- •Parents often entrust teachers with their children's education.
To give someone a secret or important information expecting they will keep it safe
- •He entrusted me with a personal secret.
- •The diplomat was entrusted with confidential information.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "entrusted" like "gave," but with trust and responsibility added—it's not just giving, but trusting someone to take care of it well
- ✓Picture handing your house key to a friend when you go on vacation, trusting they will look after your home
- ✓It's the feeling when you share a secret with a close friend because you believe they will keep it safe
- ✓Sounds like "in-TRUST-ed" → imagine putting something "in trust" with someone, like a treasure chest locked in their hands
- ✓Think of stories where a king entrusts a knight with an important mission or treasure—this shows trust and responsibility
- ✓NOT like "lend" (temporary and may not involve trust), "entrust" always includes trusting the person deeply
- ✓NOT like "give" (can be casual), "entrust" means giving with serious confidence and care
- ✓NOT like "borrow" (taking something), "entrust" is about giving something important to someone else
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Assigned: gave a task or responsibility (Use when focusing on giving a duty rather than trust)
- •Trusted: believed someone to be reliable (Use when focusing on belief in a person rather than the act of giving)
- •Delegated: gave power or responsibility to someone else (Use in formal work or leadership context)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "en-" (to cause or put into) + root: "trust" (to believe someone is reliable) + suffix: "-ed" (past tense)
- •Etymology: From Old French "entruster," meaning to give in trust or confidence
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century to mean giving something into someone's care with trust
- •Modern usage: Common in formal and everyday speech when talking about giving responsibility or secrets with confidence
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When have you entrusted someone with something important, and how did it feel?
•How does entrusting someone affect the relationship between people? Does it create more trust or pressure?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She entrusted her ___ to her best friend before leaving the country.
2.Entrusted tasks often require ___ and careful attention to detail.
3.Unlike simply giving, to be entrusted means the person ___ your confidence.
4.When you are entrusted with a secret, you should ___ it carefully.
5.The teacher was entrusted ___ the safety of the students during the trip.
6.If someone is not reliable, you should not ___ them with important responsibilities.
7.Entrusted responsibilities usually come with ___ to complete the task well.