betray

[ bih-trey ]

/ bɪˈtreɪ /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR betray ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR betray

4, 6. hide, conceal.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR betray ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for betray

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 Formsbetrayal, 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

Word Origin and History for betray

betray

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.

betray

verb (used with object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of betray

Examples from the Web for betray

betray

verb (tr)

Word Origin for betray

betray