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. to reveal one's true character, intentions, etc

9. to lead astray; deceive

10. 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of betray¹

C13: from _be- + trayen from Old French trair , from Latin trādere

Example Sentences

Linda said she felt "betrayed" that Rachel was repeatedly given intimate personal care by male carers, despite express wishes from her family for female carers.

From BBC

Hence, to claim that such shootings betray “who we are” is to forget that the U.S. was founded upon – and has long been sustained by – this very form of political violence.

From Salon

Sotomayor’s dissent may not carry the force of law, but it carries something older — the moral memory of a Constitution written in hope and too often betrayed in silence.

From Los Angeles Times

Rare are the characters who emerge on the other side of a story in which they betray a vulnerable figure – for entirely logical reasons, mind you – and still be loved by the audience.

From Salon

Even in that love triangle, we never betrayed Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon 
• deceive 
• forsake 
• mislead 
• seduce