Sign In Get Started
Verb + preposition

How to use 'trust' with prepositions

Trust is commonly followed by in when talking about confidence in people, ideas, or systems. Trust to is also used in some structures. Trust on is generally nonstandard.

Quick answer

Common patterns with 'trust'

Use trust in for confidence in someone or something. Use trust someone to do something for responsibility or reliability. Trust on is generally incorrect in standard English.

I trust in her judgment completely.
We trust the team to deliver on time.
Many voters trust in the system less than before.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
trust in + person/thing

Expressing confidence

Use trust in for belief or confidence in someone, something, or an idea.

She trusts in scientific research strongly.
2
trust + person + to + verb

Believing someone is reliable

Use trust someone to do something when you believe they will act correctly.

I trust him to keep the secret.
3
trust to + noun

Leaving something to chance or ability

Trust to is a formal pattern meaning rely on something.

They trusted to luck during the storm.
4
trust with + responsibility

Giving responsibility

Use trust with when someone receives responsibility or valuable items.

She was trusted with the company accounts.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
trust in
Do you trust in online banking?
Shows confidence or belief.
trust with
He trusted her with the keys.
Shows responsibility given to someone.
trust to
We trusted to experience in the crisis.
A formal way to say rely on.
trust on
We trust on our friends.
Generally nonstandard in modern English; use trust in or rely on instead.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using trust on

Standard English normally uses trust in or rely on.

✕ I trust on my doctor. ✓ I trust my doctor.

Adding in before a person unnecessarily

Direct objects are common with trust.

✕ I trust in my brother completely. ✓ I trust my brother completely.

Confusing trust with rely on

Trust is emotional confidence; rely on emphasizes practical dependence.

✕ I trust on public transport every day. ✓ I rely on public transport every day.

Using to after a noun incorrectly

Use trust someone to do something.

✕ I trust to him finish the work. ✓ I trust him to finish the work.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She trusts ___ her manager's experience.
2. I trust Anna ___ handle the meeting.
3. He was trusted ___ sensitive information.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is 'trust on' correct?

It is generally considered nonstandard in modern English. Use trust in or rely on instead.

What is the difference between 'trust' and 'trust in'?

Trust often takes a direct object, while trust in emphasizes belief or confidence.

Can I say 'trust to luck'?

Yes. It is a formal expression meaning rely on luck.

tackle by, in, for, with or on? tack-on-onto-to-across, as "tag with" or "tag in"? tailor to, for, from, toward or towards? "taint by" or "taint with"? "take into", "take in" or "take to"? "talk about" or "talk to"? tally with, in, for, up or at? "tap into" or "tap on"? target at, by, for, to or in? tarnish by, in, with, after or as? "taste like", "taste of" or "taste in"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account