entrust to

USAGE SUMMARY

'entrust to' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to assign an important task or responsibility to someone, often with a great deal of trust or confidence. For example, "I entrust the mission to you, officer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These memories are too precious to entrust to any computer.

The New York Times

"War is too serious a matter," Georges Clemenceau famously quipped, "to entrust to the generals".

The New York Times

"And we have the very highest standards for those we entrust to enforce the law".

The New York Times

It is not a message he plans to entrust to the runway or ordinary television.

The New York Times

And there's this lovely dictionary definition of consign which is 'to entrust to the care of'.

The Guardian - Business

The moment was too powerful to me to entrust to memory.

The Washington Post

It didn't preclude me from entering professions deemed too dangerous to entrust to Jews.

The Guardian - Opinion

We entrust to juries and the courts the responsibility of decisions affecting the life and liberty of persons.

Cornell University

Let's face it, sporting glory is a far too fragile thing to entrust to the vagaries of our subconscious.

The Guardian - Sport

As with BND, the money customers entrust to TBAS is not guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The Washington Post

I'm proud to say I voted for Gordon Brown, because I think this country's economic circumstances are too dire to entrust to new blood with no experience whatsoever.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "entrust to" when emphasizing the trust and confidence you place in someone to handle a task or responsibility. For example, "I entrust to you the safe-keeping of this valuable artifact."

Common error

While "entrust to" is suitable for formal and neutral contexts, avoid using it in very casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "give to" or "let handle" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "entrust to" is as a transitive verb phrase followed by a preposition. It is used to indicate the act of assigning responsibility or care to someone, implying a significant level of trust. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

26%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "entrust to" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to convey the act of giving responsibility or care with a significant degree of trust. Ludwig AI confirms that "entrust to" means to assign an important task or responsibility to someone, often with a great deal of trust or confidence. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it appears most frequently in news and media and academic contexts, carrying a formal to neutral register. While highly common, it's important to consider the level of formality when using "entrust to", opting for simpler alternatives in casual conversations. It's a phrase that highlights not just the delegation of a task, but also the faith placed in the individual or entity receiving it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delegate to

Focuses on the act of assigning responsibility or authority.

assign to

Implies a more formal or official allocation of a task or duty.

hand over to

Suggests a transfer of possession or control.

rely on

Emphasizes the dependence and confidence placed in someone or something.

confide in

Highlights the trust and intimacy involved in sharing something important.

leave in the hands of

Indicates a relinquishing of control and a reliance on someone else's abilities.

charge with

Focuses on the specific responsibility or duty given to someone.

bequeath to

Implies a formal passing down or inheritance of something valuable.

commit to

Emphasizes dedication and responsibility towards something or someone.

consign to

Suggests handing something over for care or disposal.

FAQs

How can I use "entrust to" in a sentence?

You can use "entrust to" to indicate giving someone responsibility or care for something. For example, "We entrust to our juries the responsibility of decisions affecting the life and liberty of persons." You could also say, "I entrust to you the success of this project."

What are some alternatives to "entrust to"?

Alternatives to "entrust to" include "delegate to", "assign to", or "rely on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "entrust to" and "assign to"?

"Entrust to" implies a greater degree of trust and confidence in the person being given the responsibility, whereas "assign to" is a more neutral term for allocating a task or duty. Thus you can "delegate to" someone a task when you don't want to make a big statement about your trust.

Is "entrust to" formal or informal?

"Entrust to" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional, academic, or serious contexts. In informal settings, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.