betray

[ bih-trey ]

verb (used with object)

1. to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty:

   Benedict Arnold betrayed his country.

2. to be unfaithful in guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling:

   to betray a trust.

3. to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to:

   to betray one's friends.

4. to reveal or disclose in violation of confidence:

   to betray a secret.

   Synonyms: divulge, tell, expose, bare

   Antonyms: conceal, hide

5. to reveal unconsciously (something one would preferably conceal):

   Her nervousness betrays her insecurity.

6. to show or exhibit; reveal; disclose:

   an unfeeling remark that betrays his lack of concern.

   Synonyms: uncover, demonstrate, manifest, display

   Antonyms: conceal, hide

7. to deceive, misguide, or corrupt:

   a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly.

8. to seduce and desert.

betray

/ bɪˈtreɪ /

verb

1. to aid an enemy of (one's nation, friend, etc); be a traitor to

   to betray one's country

2. to hand over or expose (one's nation, friend, etc) treacherously to an enemy
3. to disclose (a secret, confidence, etc) treacherously
4. to break (a promise) or be disloyal to (a person's trust)
5. to disappoint the expectations of; fail

   his tired legs betrayed him

6. to show signs of; indicate

   if one taps china, the sound betrays any faults

7. to reveal unintentionally

   his grin betrayed his satisfaction

8. betray oneself
   to reveal one's true character, intentions, etc
9. to lead astray; deceive
10. euphemistic.
    to seduce and then forsake (a woman)

Derived Forms

• beˈtrayal, noun
• beˈtrayer, noun

Other Words From

• be·tray·al noun
• be·tray·er noun
• pre·be·tray verb (used with object)
• self-be·tray·ing adjective
• un·be·tray·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of betray¹

First recorded in 1200–50; from Middle English bitraien, equivalent to bi- be- + traien, from Old French trair, from Latin trādere “to betray”; traitor

Word History and Origins

Origin of betray¹

C13: from be- + trayen from Old French trair , from Latin trādere

Example Sentences

The Scottish Conservatives say victims are being "betrayed".

From BBC

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said that while farmers felt "betrayed" the union did not condone direct action such as withholding food from supermarkets.

From BBC

"He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him."

From BBC

This time there's no national security pretense or a rationale that people are betraying the country.

From Salon

Restricting the ninth sign will only push them further away and confirm that their never-ending journey is, in fact, the only lover that will never betray them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon
• deceive
• forsake
• mislead
• seduce