cultivate trust

USAGE SUMMARY

"cultivate trust" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking about building, establishing, or strengthening trust between individuals, groups, or organizations. It can be used in personal relationships, business relationships, and any other situation where trust is important. Example: The company's CEO emphasized the need to cultivate trust with their customers by providing transparent and high-quality services.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

How to cultivate trust in business, politics and personal relationships.

The New York Times

Whatever they did, they didn't cultivate trust, so we always thought that everything was about to fall apart".

The Guardian - Music

Taobao executives understood that live conversations were necessary for Chinese consumers to cultivate trust, and offered an instant-message service to allow them to haggle over deals.

The New York Times - Tech

Such community initiatives could reduce misunderstanding and cultivate trust between migrants and local people, incorporating migrants into the broader community.

European Transport Research Review

In other words, we could purposefully try to focus our attention on what makes other people trustworthy, and in doing so cultivate trust in them.

SEP

You need to strike a balance between sincerity (needed to cultivate trust) and purposefulness (careful choices to make sure the relationship flows along smoothly).

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

In Kate Robin's play "Intrigue With Faye," the couple decide to videotape their every word and move as a way of cultivating trust and intimacy.

The New York Times

China has truly won the hearts of the populace, if not minds; this, in turn, has cultivated trust between the two countries.

The Guardian - Opinion

He proved equally adept at cultivating trust and communication among his players and the staff, with a turning point coming in spring training, when he canceled practice in favor of a billiards tournament.

The New York Times

Institutions or groups trying to restore public trust could also use the above method of cultivating trust.

SEP

In general, cultivating trust is only morally wise if trusting would be wise in the circumstances, which in turn would depend on whether factors are present that roughly indicate that trust would be justified.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "cultivate trust", prioritize consistent actions over words. Demonstrating reliability through predictable behavior reinforces trust more effectively than promises alone.

Common error

Avoid assuming that initial interactions automatically establish trust. "Cultivating trust" requires sustained effort and consistent behavior over time to solidify relationships.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cultivate trust" functions primarily as a verb phrase. According to Ludwig, it describes the active process of developing, nurturing, or fostering trust between individuals or groups. It’s often used in contexts where trust is seen as something that needs to be carefully developed over time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cultivate trust" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's prevalent in contexts like news, science, and business, emphasizing the active and sustained effort required to build and maintain trust. Alternatives like "build trust" or "foster trust" offer similar meanings with slight nuances. Remember that consistently demonstrating reliability is key to effectively "cultivating trust" and it is better to cultivate it and nurture it in order to keep it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

build trust

Uses a more direct and common verb, "build", instead of "cultivate".

foster trust

Replaces "cultivate" with "foster", suggesting a nurturing and supportive approach to developing trust.

establish trust

Emphasizes the act of creating trust from the beginning, rather than developing existing trust.

develop trust

Focuses on the gradual growth of trust over time.

nurture trust

Implies a gentle and caring approach to maintaining and growing trust.

encourage trust

Highlights the act of promoting an environment where trust can flourish.

promote trust

Similar to "encourage trust", but focuses on actively pushing for trust to be established.

grow trust

Suggests a natural and organic increase in trust.

create trust

Focuses on the initial creation of trust, rather than its development or maintenance.

inspire confidence

Shifts the focus to the outcome of trust-building, which is inspiring confidence in others.

FAQs

How can I "cultivate trust" in a professional setting?

Consistent communication, transparency in your actions, and delivering on promises are key to "cultivating trust" professionally. Show reliability and integrity in your interactions.

What's the difference between "cultivate trust" and "build trust"?

"Cultivate trust" suggests a more gradual and nurturing approach, like tending to a garden. "Build trust" implies a more direct and active construction of trust.

Are there situations where you shouldn't try to "cultivate trust"?

If someone has consistently shown themselves to be untrustworthy or has malicious intentions, attempting to "cultivate trust" may be unwise. Prioritize your safety and well-being.

What are some initial steps to "cultivate trust" in a new relationship?

Being open and honest about yourself, actively listening to the other person, and showing empathy are good starting points to "cultivate trust". Small acts of kindness and reliability can also help.