Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for betray on Thesaurus.com 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. to deceive, misguide, or corrupt: a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly. to seduce and desert. Show More
Origin of betray 1200–50; Middle English bitraien, equivalent to
bi- be- +
traien <
Old French trair <
Latin trādere to betray. See
traitor Related forms be·tray·al , noun be·tray·er , noun pre·be·tray , verb (used with object) pre·be·tray·al , noun self-be·tray·al , noun self-be·tray·ing , adjective un·be·trayed , adjective un·be·tray·ing , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for betray abandon ,
mislead ,
forsake ,
deceive ,
seduce ,
reveal ,
jilt ,
cross ,
trick ,
finger ,
bluff ,
desert ,
knife ,
delude ,
disclose ,
show ,
unmask ,
stool ,
evince ,
manifest Examples from the Web for betray Contemporary Examples of betray ISIS abducts boys, breaks them down, forces them to betray their families, then hopes to recruit them into its ranks.
Jones said that as far as he can tell, the article did not betray any secrets.
The very source of his tremendous talent and athleticism seemed to betray him.
“A public official,” he added, “who accepts bribesis tantamount to a traitor” because they betray the trust of the public.
To save its better potential, we need to betray what it has become.
Historical Examples of betray He resolved to pretend to be dumb, and he charged Terence not to betray him.
His answer gave me a little start, but I did not betray myself.
Nay, that foot has no fellow in the wilderness; it will betray her.
If Heman felt any surprise at her knowledge of his purpose, he did not betray it.
I warned you how it would be,—your own selfishness will betray and ruin you.
British Dictionary definitions for betray 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 betray oneself to reveal one's true character, intentions, etc to lead astray; deceive euphemistic to seduce and then forsake (a woman) Show More
Derived Forms betrayal , noun betrayer , noun Word Origin for betray C13: from be- + trayen from Old French trair , from Latin trādere
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for betray v. late 13c., bitrayen "mislead, deceive, betray," from be- + obsolete Middle English tray , from Old French traine "betrayal, deception, deceit," from trair (Modern French trahir ) "betray, deceive," from Latin tradere "hand over," from trans- "across" (see trans- ) + dare "to give" (see date (n.1)). Related: Betrayed ; betraying .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
