betray

[ bih-trey ]

/ bɪˈtreɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR betray ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (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.

to deceive, misguide, or corrupt: a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly.

to seduce and desert.

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We know you’ll tackle this quiz totis viribus! See how many words from the week of Oct 12–18, 2020 you get right!

Question 1 of 7

What does “Indigenous” mean?

characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.

carried on abroad, or with other countries.

relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of betray

1200–50; Middle English bitraien, equivalent to bi-be- + traien<Old French trair<Latin trādere to betray. See traitor

SYNONYMS FOR betray

4 bare, expose, tell, divulge.

6 display, manifest, expose, uncover.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR betray ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR betray

4, 6 hide, conceal.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR betray ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM betray

be·tray·al, nounbe·tray·er, nounpre·be·tray, verb (used with object)pre·be·tray·al, noun

self-be·tray·al, nounself-be·tray·ing, adjectiveun·be·trayed, adjectiveun·be·tray·ing, adjective

Words nearby betray

betony, betook, Betoptic S, torn between, be, touched by, be, betray, betroth, betrothal, betrothed, Betsiamites, Betsiboka

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for betray

I was betrayed, taken advantage of, overworked and underpaid.
Trina Braxton To David Adefeso: ‘When You Attack One, You Attack Us All’|Hope Wright|September 17, 2020|Essence.com
We’re calling on journalists to stop circulating sexist labels that betray women’s skills, insights, & lived experiences as leaders.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic|Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
In the new version, Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent, betrayed by her childhood love and wonderfully, campily bitter about it, fixates on his daughter Aurora.
Toward a queer Disney canon|Emily VanDerWerff|September 4, 2020|Vox
ISIS abducts boys, breaks them down, forces them to betray their families, then hopes to recruit them into its ranks.
Abducted, Tortured, Indoctrinated: The Tale of a Teen Who Escaped ISIS|Yusuf Sayman|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Jones said that as far as he can tell, the article did not betray any secrets.
Fired From Los Alamos for Pushing Obama's Nuclear Agenda|Center for Public Integrity|July 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The very source of his tremendous talent and athleticism seemed to betray him.
A Lesson From LeBron James’ Game One Nightmare|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“A public official,” he added, “who accepts bribesis tantamount to a traitor” because they betray the trust of the public.
Ehud Olmert’s Sentencing Won’t Be a Day of Reckoning for Israel’s Leaders|Alon Ben-Meir|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To save its better potential, we need to betray what it has become.
We Need More Class Traitors: Solving America’s Meritocracy Problem|Jedediah Purdy|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He has guided Robert so often, and been with him in so many trying scenes, he never can have the heart to betray him, or us.
Wyandotte|James Fenimore Cooper
"It's no use crying for the moon," she decided, blinking hard lest she should betray symptoms of weakness before her juniors.
For the Sake of the School|Angela Brazil
But for the present he knew he must not betray himself by word, look or action; other things of greater moment must be settled.
The Free Range|Francis William Sullivan
If her mother understood her eagerness, she did not betray it, but with Mr. Watkins it was different.
For Gold or Soul?|Lurana W. Sheldon
It was evident that the main company of Kiowas were either beyond hearing or too cautious to betray themselves.
Three Sioux Scouts|Elmer Russell Gregor

British Dictionary definitions for betray

betray

/ (bɪˈtreɪ) /

verb (tr)

to aid an enemy of (one's nation, friend, etc); be a traitor toto 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; failhis tired legs betrayed him

to show signs of; indicateif one taps china, the sound betrays any faults

to reveal unintentionallyhis 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)

Derived forms of betray

betrayal, nounbetrayer, 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

betray

verb (used with object)

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of betray

SYNONYMS FOR betray

ANTONYMS FOR betray

OTHER WORDS FROM betray

Words nearby betray

Example sentences from the Web for betray

British Dictionary definitions for betray

verb (tr)

Derived forms of betray

Word Origin for betray

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

betray

verb (used with object)

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of betray

SYNONYMS FOR betray

ANTONYMS FOR betray

OTHER WORDS FROM betray

Words nearby betray

Words related to betray

Example sentences from the Web for betray

British Dictionary definitions for betray

verb (tr)

Derived forms of betray

Word Origin for betray