Trust vs. Believe: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on November 16, 2023
Trust implies confidence in reliability, while believe signifies accepting something as true.
Key Differences
Trust refers to a confident expectation or reliance on the integrity, strength, or ability of a person or thing. Believe, on the other hand, is the acceptance of a statement, idea, or concept as true, often without evidence.
Both trust and believe hinge on faith, but the former tends to be rooted in prior experiences or a firm foundation. For instance, one might trust a friend due to past loyalty, but believe in the idea of ghosts based on anecdotes. When we say we trust someone, it often implies that we are willing to depend on them or expect them to act a certain way. Conversely, when we say we believe in something, it signifies our mental acceptance of its truth or existence.
Both words play a pivotal role in our interactions and perceptions, but trust often involves a deeper emotional connection, while believe focuses more on cognitive acceptance.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Emotional reliance
Cognitive acceptance
Foundation
Often based on experience
Can be without direct evidence
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Application
Primarily to people/objects
Primarily to ideas/concepts
Depth
Deeper connection
Surface-level acceptance
Requirement
Requires consistency
Requires convincing
Trust and Believe Definitions
Trust
Firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance
Trying to gain our clients' trust.
Taking it on trust that our friend is telling the truth.
Believe
Acceptance that something exists or is true.
I believe in miracles.
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Trust
A legal entity where one party holds property for the benefit of another.
She set up a trust for her grandchildren.
Believe
Hold a certain opinion or conviction.
I believe that this is the right path.
Trust
The condition and resulting obligation of having confidence placed in one
Violated a public trust.
Believe
To accept (something) as true or real
Do you believe his version of what happened?.
Trust
One in which confidence is placed.
Believe
To consider (someone) to be truthful or accurate in what they are saying
I believe you when you say that your neighbor is angry.
Trust
Custody; care
Left her papers in my trust during her illness.
Believe
To expect or suppose; think
I believe it will snow tomorrow. I believe the letters to be authentic.
Trust
Something committed into the care of another; a charge
Violated a public trust.
Believe
To have religious faith
He believes in God.
Trust
Reliance on something in the future; hope
We have trust that the future will be better.
Believe
To have faith, confidence, or trust
I believe in your ability to solve the problem.
Trust
Reliance on the intention and ability of a purchaser to pay in the future; credit
Bought the supplies on trust from a local dealer.
Believe
To consider something to be important, worthwhile, or valuable
I believe in free speech.
Trust
A legal relationship in which one party holds a title to property while another party has the entitlement to the beneficial use of that property.
Believe
(transitive) To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
If you believe the numbers, you'll agree we need change.
I believe there are faeries.
Trust
The confidence reposed in a trustee when giving the trustee legal title to property to administer for another, together with the trustee's obligation regarding that property and the beneficiary.
Believe
(transitive) To accept that someone is telling the truth.
Why did I ever believe you?
Trust
The property so held.
Believe
(intransitive) To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.
After that night in the church, I believed.
Trust
An institution or organization directed by trustees
A charitable trust.
Believe
To opine, think, reckon.
Do you think this is good? —Hmm, I believe it's okay.
Trust
A combination of firms or corporations for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices throughout a business or industry.
Believe
To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine.
Our conqueror (whom I nowOf force believe almighty).
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ?
Often followed by a dependent clause.I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Trust
To have or place confidence in; depend on
Only trusted his friends.
Did not trust the strength of the thin rope.
Could not be trusted to oversee so much money.
Believe
To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
Trust
To have confidence in allowing (someone) to use, know, or look after something
Can I trust you with a secret?.
Believe
To think; to suppose.
I will not believe so meanly of you.
Trust
To expect with assurance; assume
I trust that you will be on time.
Believe
Accept as true; take to be true;
I believed his report
We didn't believe his stories from the War
She believes in spirits
Trust
To give credence to; believe
I trust what you say.
Believe
Judge or regard; look upon; judge;
I think he is very smart
I believe her to be very smart
I think that he is her boyfriend
The racist conceives such people to be inferior
Trust
To place in the care of another person or in a situation deemed safe; entrust
"the unfortunate souls who trusted their retirement savings to the stock" (Bill Barnhart).
Believe
Be confident about something;
I believe that he will come back from the war
Trust
To extend credit to.
Believe
Follow a credo; have a faith; be a believer;
When you hear his sermons, you will be able to believe, too
Trust
To have or place reliance; depend
We can only trust in our guide's knowledge of the terrain.
Believe
Credit with veracity;
You cannot believe this man
Should we believe a publication like the National Inquirer?
Trust
To be confident; hope.
Believe
Feel sure about the abilities of someone or something.
She believes in her team's potential.
Trust
Confidence in or reliance on some person or quality.
He needs to regain her trust if he is ever going to win her back.
To lose trust in someone
Build up trust
A relationship built on mutual trust
Believe
Accept a statement as true or factual.
I believe what you're saying.
Trust
Dependence upon something in the future; hope.
Believe
Trust or have confidence in.
They believe in his leadership.
Trust
Confidence in the future payment for goods or services supplied; credit.
I was out of cash, but the landlady let me have it on trust.
Trust
That which is committed or entrusted; something received in confidence; a charge.
Trust
That upon which confidence is reposed; ground of reliance; hope.
Trust
(rare) Trustworthiness, reliability.
Trust
The condition or obligation of one to whom anything is confided; responsible charge or office.
Trust
(legal) The confidence vested in a person who has legal ownership of a property to manage for the benefit of another.
I put the house into my sister's trust.
Trust
(legal) An arrangement whereby property or money is given to be held by a third party (a trustee), on the basis that it will be managed for the benefit of, or eventually transferred to, a stated beneficiary; for example, money to be given to a child when he or she reaches adulthood.
Trust
A group of businessmen or traders organised for mutual benefit to produce and distribute specific commodities or services, and managed by a central body of trustees.
Trust
(computing) Affirmation of the access rights of a user of a computer system.
Trust
(transitive) To place confidence in, to rely on, to confide in.
We cannot trust anyone who deceives us.
Trust
To have faith in; to rely on for continuing support or aid.
Trust
(transitive) To give credence to; to believe; to credit.
Trust
(transitive) To hope confidently; to believe (usually with a phrase or infinitive clause as the object)
I trust you have cleaned your room?
Trust
(transitive) to show confidence in a person by entrusting them with something.
Trust
(transitive) To commit, as to one's care; to entrust.
Trust
(transitive) To give credit to; to sell to upon credit, or in confidence of future payment.
Merchants and manufacturers trust their customers annually with goods.
Trust
To rely on (something), as though having trust (on it).
To trust to luck
Having lost the book, he had to trust to his memory for further details.
Trust
To risk; to venture confidently.
Trust
(intransitive) To have trust; to be credulous; to be won to confidence; to confide.
Trust
To sell or deliver anything in reliance upon a promise of payment; to give credit.
Trust
(obsolete) Secure, safe.
Trust
(obsolete) Faithful, dependable.
Trust
(legal) of or relating to a trust.
Trust
Assured resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle, of another person; confidence; reliance; reliance.
Most take things upon trust.
Trust
Credit given; especially, delivery of property or merchandise in reliance upon future payment; exchange without immediate receipt of an equivalent; as, to sell or buy goods on trust.
Trust
Assured anticipation; dependence upon something future or contingent, as if present or actual; hope; belief.
His trust was with the Eternal to be deemedEqual in strength.
Trust
That which is committed or intrusted to one; something received in confidence; charge; deposit.
Trust
The condition or obligation of one to whom anything is confided; responsible charge or office.
[I] serve him truly that will put me in trust.
Reward them well, if they observe their trust.
Trust
That upon which confidence is reposed; ground of reliance; hope.
O Lord God, thou art my trust from my youth.
Trust
An estate devised or granted in confidence that the devisee or grantee shall convey it, or dispose of the profits, at the will, or for the benefit, of another; an estate held for the use of another; a confidence respecting property reposed in one person, who is termed the trustee, for the benefit of another, who is called the cestui que trust.
Trust
An equitable right or interest in property distinct from the legal ownership thereof; a use (as it existed before the Statute of Uses); also, a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another. Trusts are active, or special, express, implied, constructive, etc. In a passive trust the trustee simply has title to the trust property, while its control and management are in the beneficiary.
Trust
A business organization or combination consisting of a number of firms or corporations operating, and often united, under an agreement creating a trust (in sense 1), esp. one formed mainly for the purpose of regulating the supply and price of commodities, etc.; often, opprobriously, a combination formed for the purpose of controlling or monopolizing a trade, industry, or business, by doing acts in restraint or trade; as, a sugar trust. A trust may take the form of a corporation or of a body of persons or corporations acting together by mutual arrangement, as under a contract or a so-called gentlemen's agreement. When it consists of corporations it may be effected by putting a majority of their stock either in the hands of a board of trustees (whence the name trust for the combination) or by transferring a majority to a holding company. The advantages of a trust are partly due to the economies made possible in carrying on a large business, as well as the doing away with competition. In the United States severe statutes against trusts have been passed by the Federal government and in many States, with elaborate statutory definitions.
Trust
Held in trust; as, trust property; trustmoney.
Trust
To place confidence in; to rely on, to confide, or repose faith, in; as, we can not trust those who have deceived us.
I will never trust his word after.
He that trusts every one without reserve will at last be deceived.
Trust
To give credence to; to believe; to credit.
Trust me, you look well.
Trust
To hope confidently; to believe; - usually with a phrase or infinitive clause as the object.
I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face.
We trustwe have a good conscience.
Trust
To show confidence in a person by intrusting (him) with something.
Whom, with your power and fortune, sir, you trust,Now to suspect is vain.
Trust
To commit, as to one's care; to intrust.
Merchants were not willing to trust precious cargoes to any custody but that of a man-of-war.
Trust
To give credit to; to sell to upon credit, or in confidence of future payment; as, merchants and manufacturers trust their customers annually with goods.
Trust
To risk; to venture confidently.
[Beguiled] by theeto trust thee from my side.
Trust
To have trust; to be credulous; to be won to confidence; to confide.
More to know could not be more to trust.
Trust
To be confident, as of something future; to hope.
I will trust and not be afraid.
Trust
To sell or deliver anything in reliance upon a promise of payment; to give credit.
It is happier sometimes to be cheated than not to trust.
Her widening streets on new foundations trust.
They trusted unto the liers in wait.
Trust
Something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary);
He is the beneficiary of a generous trust set up by his father
Trust
Certainty based on past experience;
He wrote the paper with considerable reliance on the work of other scientists
He put more trust in his own two legs than in the gun
Trust
The trait of trusting; of believing in the honesty and reliability of others;
The experience destroyed his trust and personal dignity
Trust
A consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition by controlling the production and distribution of a product or service;
They set up the trust in the hope of gaining a monopoly
Trust
Complete confidence in a person or plan etc;
He cherished the faith of a good woman
The doctor-patient relationship is based on trust
Trust
A trustful relationship;
He took me into his confidence
He betrayed their trust
Trust
Have confidence or faith in;
We can trust in God
Rely on your friends
Bank on your good education
I swear by my grandmother's recipes
Trust
Allow without fear
Trust
Be confident about something;
I believe that he will come back from the war
Trust
Expect and wish;
I trust you will behave better from now on
I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise
Trust
Confer a trust upon;
The messenger was entrusted with the general's secret
I commit my soul to God
Trust
Extend credit to
Trust
Confidence in someone's reliability or integrity.
I trust her with my secrets.
Trust
Dependence on something in the future; hope.
We put our trust in tomorrow's promise.
Trust
A firm belief in the truth or reliability of something.
People have trust in the justice system.
Trust
To allow someone to do something with the confidence of a good outcome.
I trust you to get the job done.
FAQs
Can you believe in something without trusting it?
Yes, one can accept something as true (believe) without relying on it (trust).
How does trust relate to loyalty?
Trust is often built through consistent loyalty.
Can beliefs be proven wrong?
Yes, beliefs can be disproven or evolve over time.
Is trust always based on experience?
Not always, but trust is often influenced by prior experiences.
Is belief a choice?
Belief can be a choice, but it's often influenced by experiences, upbringing, and exposure.
Is trust only applicable to people?
No, trust can also apply to systems, concepts, and objects.
Can trust be regained?
Yes, though it might require effort, consistency, and time.
Is trust an emotion?
Trust involves emotional elements, but it's more a state of mind than a pure emotion.
What breaks trust?
Dishonesty, unreliability, and betrayal can break trust.
How can beliefs change over time?
Exposure to new information, experiences, or perspectives can alter beliefs.
Does trust always lead to positive outcomes?
Not always, misplaced trust can lead to disappointments.
How can trust be measured?
Through actions, consistency, and the fulfillment of promises over time.
Is it common for beliefs to be influenced by societal norms?
Yes, societal norms and culture can significantly shape individual beliefs.
Can someone believe in something they haven't seen?
Absolutely, beliefs often exist without direct evidence.
Why do people believe in myths or legends?
Cultural influences, upbringing, or inherent human curiosity can lead to such beliefs.
Can organizations build trust with stakeholders?
Yes, through transparency, consistency, and ethical behavior.
How can trust benefit relationships?
Trust fosters understanding, stability, and deep emotional connection in relationships.
Do all beliefs have a religious connotation?
No, beliefs can be secular or pertain to any aspect of life.
What's the difference between believing in someone and trusting someone?
Believing in someone means having faith in their abilities, while trusting them implies reliance on their actions or words.
Why is it easier for some people to believe than others?
Personal experiences, upbringing, and personality traits can influence one's propensity to believe.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
