betray
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty.
Benedict Arnold betrayed his country.
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to be unfaithful in guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling.
to betray a trust.
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to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to.
to betray one's friends.
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to reveal or disclose in violation of confidence.
to betray a secret.
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to reveal unconsciously (something one would preferably conceal).
Her nervousness betrays her insecurity.
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to show or exhibit; reveal; disclose.
an unfeeling remark that betrays his lack of concern.
- Synonyms:
- uncover, demonstrate, manifest, display
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to deceive, misguide, or corrupt.
a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly.
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to seduce and desert.
verb
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to aid an enemy of (one's nation, friend, etc); be a traitor to
to betray one's country
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to hand over or expose (one's nation, friend, etc) treacherously to an enemy
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to disclose (a secret, confidence, etc) treacherously
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to break (a promise) or be disloyal to (a person's trust)
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to disappoint the expectations of; fail
his tired legs betrayed him
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to show signs of; indicate
if one taps china, the sound betrays any faults
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to reveal unintentionally
his grin betrayed his satisfaction
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to reveal one's true character, intentions, etc
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to lead astray; deceive
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euphemistic to seduce and then forsake (a woman)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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betrayalnoun
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betrayernoun
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prebetrayverb (used with object)
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self-betrayingadjective
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unbetrayingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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betraysimple
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betrayssimple
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have betrayedperfect
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has betrayedperfect
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am betrayingprogressive
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are betrayingprogressive
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is betrayingprogressive
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have been betrayingperfect progressive
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has been betrayingperfect progressive
Past
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betrayedsimple
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had betrayedperfect
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was betrayingprogressive
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were betrayingprogressive
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had been betrayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of betray
First recorded in 1200–50; from Middle English bitraien, equivalent to bi- be- + traien, from Old French trair, from Latin trādere “to betray”; see traitor
Explanation
When you betray someone or something, you provide information whether you mean to do it or not, like the loud growling of your stomach that betrays your hunger or the secret you tell about your friend that betrays her trust. When you betray someone or something, you reveal something, like a secret or your true feelings. You may betray your impatience, for example, if you sit at your desk tapping your fingers. There is another meaning of betray that is just the opposite: lie. You betray your friend if you pretend that something is true just to trick him into doing what you want. In this case, betray means the same thing as deceive.
Vocabulary lists containing betray
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Detained since late January 2025, he described his time already spent behind bars as “extraordinarily difficult” and said, “I did not betray my country.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
You can't go against your values, nor can you betray others.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
"It will never betray you, will always be loyal to you, and will love you unconditionally."
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Rival sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s posted in the comments, “Mike would never betray you @ciaramiller.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
Only the bruise-colored circles under his eyes betray his age.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
Expecting Scotland to 'go for it' like mad dogs in a meathouse betrays a serious lack of understanding of the weather here.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
The Wrap said "at times it betrays its amateur beginnings with clunky plotting."
From Barron's ● May 20, 2026
But the language used throughout the filing to describe potential confusion betrays their fears.
From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2026
Her eyes dart up and down in a manner that betrays rote memorization, not scholarship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
“It stinks when family betrays you. It happened to us, too. I think it was my mom’s cousin who turned in my dad.’
From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez
These spaces are communities, and Mitrovich had betrayed an unspoken agreement to keep them that way.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
I can see why your friend felt betrayed.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
"These events raise profound questions about the integrity and independence of the review process. Bereaved families deserve complete transparency," he said, adding that he felt "profoundly betrayed" by the Amos review.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
"I feel like the Kenyan government and Alfred Mutua have betrayed us," she added, speaking from her home in the Kakamega region of western Kenya.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
“I guess he likes you,” I said, somehow feeling a bit betrayed.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
Mr. Sheffi’s book describes a great American institution avidly betraying its principles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Over a century ago, when the Supreme Court helped usher in Jim Crow, Justice John Marshall Harlan took his colleagues to task for betraying the promise of Reconstruction.
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2026
"Our justice system is betraying victims and survivors," said Eshghi.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
Some jokingly accused him of betraying his hometown team.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
Or she should have told him more: that she regretted betraying Kainene and him but did not regret the act itself.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
