What is trust? Pronunciation and usage in English

trust means . Learn how to pronounce and use trust through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of trust

trustnoun/verb

/trʌst/
Definition & pronunciation of trust

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "trust" in English. Here's a breakdown of the sounds and a few helpful tips:

1. The Sounds:

  • tr: This is pronounced like the "try" sound – /tr/. It's a quick, sharp 't' followed immediately by a 'r'.
  • ust: This part is where it can trip people up. It's pronounced like /ʌst/. Let's break that down further:
    • uh: This is a short, slightly relaxed "uh" sound, like in the word "but." It's not a long "oo" sound.
    • st: This is pronounced like the "st" in "stop."

2. Putting it Together:

The whole word is roughly pronounced: "trʌst" (with a slight emphasis on the first syllable - "tr").

3. Tips for Pronunciation:

  • The “r” sound: American English usually makes a distinct "r" sound after a vowel. So, it's not a swallowed "r" like you might hear in some British accents.
  • Short "uh" sound: Really focus on that short, relaxed “uh” sound in the middle. Don't say "trust" like "trust" (with a long "u" sound).
  • Don’t over-emphasize the first syllable: While “tr” does get a little bit of emphasis, don’t make it dramatically louder than the "ust" part.

4. Resources to Listen:

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you some example sentences to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word trust in English

Let's break down how to use the word "trust" in English. It's a really versatile word with a lot of different meanings and ways to use it. Here's a comprehensive guide:

1. As a Verb (Action - To Believe/Have Confidence)

  • Basic Meaning: To believe that someone or something is reliable and can be depended on.
    • Example: "I trust my friend to keep my secret." (I believe my friend is reliable and won't tell anyone.)
    • Example: "You can trust me to be on time." (I’m reliable and you can depend on me.)
  • Phrases:
    • Trust in: To have confidence in something or someone.
      • Example: "She trusts in her abilities." (She has confidence in her abilities.)
    • Trust to: To rely on something or someone.
      • Example: "We trust to the weather forecast." (We rely on the forecast.)
    • Trust for: To depend on someone for something.
      • Example: "I trust for you to handle this situation." (I am depending on you to handle this.)

2. As a Noun (State - Belief/Confidence)

  • Basic Meaning: Belief that someone is reliable or honest. A feeling of confidence.
    • Example: "He has a strong trust in his instincts." (He has a strong belief in his instincts.)
    • Example: “There was a lack of trust between the two companies.” (There was a lack of confidence in the relationship.)
  • Phrases:
    • Trustworthy: (adjective) – Describing someone who can be trusted.
      • Example: "She is a trustworthy colleague."
    • Loss of trust: (noun) – The situation where trust is no longer present.
      • Example: “The scandal caused a loss of trust in the government.”

3. Using "Trust" in Different Contexts

  • Relationships: This is where “trust” is most commonly used.
    • Example: “Building trust takes time and honesty.”
    • Example: "It's crucial to trust your partner."
  • Business/Professional:
    • Example: "We need to trust our employees to make good decisions."
    • Example: "The company’s reputation is built on trust with its customers."
  • General Confidence:
    • Example: “I trust that everything will be alright.” (I have confidence that things will be okay.)
    • Example: "Don't trust everything you read online." (Don't believe everything you see/hear.)

4. Important Related Words & Phrases

  • To betray trust: To break someone’s trust.
  • Earn trust: To gain someone’s confidence.
  • Break trust: To damage or destroy someone’s trust.
  • Implicit trust: Trust that is assumed without being explicitly stated. (e.g., you trust a doctor to act in your best interest)
  • Explicit trust: Trust that is clearly stated or shown. (e.g., “I trust you to be here on time.”)

Tips for Using “Trust” Effectively:

  • Consider the Context: Pay attention to whether you're talking about a person, a relationship, an idea, or something else.
  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of just saying “I trust you,” demonstrate it through your actions.
  • Be Genuine: Trust is earned, not given.

Could you tell me a little more about how you’d like me to help you with "trust"? For example:

  • Are you working on a specific sentence and need help with phrasing?
  • Are you trying to understand a certain nuance of the word’s meaning?
  • Would you like some example sentences tailored to a particular situation (e.g., a workplace scenario, a romantic relationship)?

Synonyms for the word trust

Idioms of the word trust

in somebody’s trust | in the trust of somebody
being taken care of by somebody
  • The family pet was left in the trust of a neighbour.
take something on trust
to believe what somebody says even though you do not have any proof or evidence to show that it is true

    Practice with vocabulary trust

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. It is challenging to build a strong professional relationship without mutual ________ between colleagues.
    2. Effective project management requires clear and consistent ________ among all stakeholders.
    3. I wouldn't ________ him with sensitive client data; his past actions have raised concerns about his discretion.
    4. The CEO carefully reviewed the quarterly financial report to ________ the company's fiscal health.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

    1. Which of the following actions demonstrates a high level of ________ in a team member? A) Delegating a critical task to them without constant oversight. B) Sharing personal vulnerabilities during a team-building exercise. C) Monitoring their work progress closely and frequently. D) Routinely questioning their decisions in front of others.

    2. After the software malfunction, the company had to work diligently to ________ customer confidence in their product. A) restore B) rebuild C) repair D) maintain

    3. What quality is essential for fostering ________ between different departments within an organization? A) Transparency in decision-making. B) Consistency in performance and communication. C) Ambition for individual career advancement. D) Intense competition for resources.

    4. It is crucial to ________ confidential corporate data to prevent unauthorized access and potential breaches. A) secure B) protect C) save D) guard

    5. Developing a robust client relationship often involves establishing mutual ________ over time. A) understanding B) agreement C) trust D) respect

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. People rely completely on her judgment because she consistently makes sound decisions.
      • Rewrite the sentence, using a form of "trust":
    2. The management team found it difficult to have confidence in the new strategy due to its lack of empirical support.
      • Rewrite the sentence, using a suitable replacement word for "have confidence in" (do not use "trust"):
    3. The board members frequently doubted his leadership, which made it hard for him to gain their support.
      • Rewrite the sentence, using a form of "trust":

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. trust
    2. communication
    3. trust
    4. assess (or evaluate, examine)

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. A) Delegating a critical task to them without constant oversight. B) Sharing personal vulnerabilities during a team-building exercise.
    2. A) restore B) rebuild D) maintain (while 'restore' and 'rebuild' focus on recovery, 'maintain' is also a valid goal related to confidence after an event)
    3. A) Transparency in decision-making. B) Consistency in performance and communication.
    4. A) secure B) protect D) guard
    5. C) trust

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. People trust her judgment completely because she consistently makes sound decisions.
    2. The management team found it difficult to rely on the new strategy due to its lack of empirical support.
    3. The board members' frequent doubts about his leadership made it hard for him to gain their trust.

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