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View synonyms for betray

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)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • beˈtrayal, noun
  • beˈtrayer, noun
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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
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of betray1

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

The original mathematical concept involves two prisoners who have the option to betray each other or to cooperate.

When both players betray each other, they receive no benefit.

If you need to betray them before they betray you?

But her beguiling illusion of soft leather rendered as hard sculpture doesn’t betray any photographic subject matter.

“Once you listen to someone and trust what they’re saying and they betray that trust,” says Rueben Tauk, “their words don’t mean anything to you any more.”

From BBC

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