Trust is confidence that someone will do what's right, keep their promises, or act in your best interests. When you trust your friend with a secret, you believe they won't tell anyone. When your parents trust you to walk to school alone, they're confident you'll be careful and make good decisions.

Trust takes time to build but can break quickly. If you borrow your sister's favorite book and return it with pages torn out, she might not trust you with her things anymore. But if you consistently keep your word, help when you say you will, and tell the truth even when it's hard, people learn they can count on you.

The word works as both a noun and a verb. You can have trust in someone, or you can trust them. A trustworthy person is someone who has earned trust through their actions over time. Scientists talk about trusted sources of information, meaning sources that have proven reliable. In everyday life, trust forms the foundation of friendships, families, and communities. Without it, working together becomes nearly impossible.

People sometimes say “trust your gut” when they mean to follow your instincts about whether something feels right or wrong.