betray
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty.
Benedict Arnold betrayed his country.
-
to be unfaithful in guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling.
to betray a trust.
-
to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to.
to betray one's friends.
-
to reveal or disclose in violation of confidence.
to betray a secret.
-
to reveal unconsciously (something one would preferably conceal).
Her nervousness betrays her insecurity.
-
to show or exhibit; reveal; disclose.
an unfeeling remark that betrays his lack of concern.
- Synonyms:
- uncover , demonstrate , manifest , display
-
to deceive, misguide, or corrupt.
a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly.
-
to seduce and desert.
verb
-
to aid an enemy of (one's nation, friend, etc); be a traitor to
to betray one's country
-
to hand over or expose (one's nation, friend, etc) treacherously to an enemy
-
to disclose (a secret, confidence, etc) treacherously
-
to break (a promise) or be disloyal to (a person's trust)
-
to disappoint the expectations of; fail
his tired legs betrayed him
-
to show signs of; indicate
if one taps china, the sound betrays any faults
-
to reveal unintentionally
his grin betrayed his satisfaction
-
to reveal one's true character, intentions, etc
-
to lead astray; deceive
-
euphemistic to seduce and then forsake (a woman)
Other Word Forms
- betrayal noun
- betrayer noun
- prebetray verb (used with object)
- self-betraying adjective
- unbetraying adjective
Etymology
Origin of betray
First recorded in 1200–50; from Middle English bitraien, equivalent to bi- be- + traien, from Old French trair, from Latin trādere “to betray”; traitor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Somewhere down the line in a fine muscle control game like snooker, your body betrays your brain," Davis said.
From BBC
The national mood betrayed a “mixture of fear and relief,” Mr. Tremlett tells us, and even among “those who opposed him, celebrations were discreet.”
This sets up a long flashback in which we learn that Marian and Edison knew each other in college, and that he betrayed her.
From Los Angeles Times
"I felt betrayed, I feel like they are not taking us as important," Eniola said.
From Barron's
Having now lost a breast to a mastectomy, she feels betrayed.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
