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. betray oneself
   betray oneself to reveal one's true character, intentions, etc
9. to lead astray; deceive
10. euphemistic.
    to seduce and then forsake (a woman)

Derived Forms

• beˈtrayal, noun
• beˈtrayer, noun

Other Words From

• be·tray·al noun
• be·tray·er noun
• pre·be·tray verb (used with object)
• self-be·tray·ing adjective
• un·be·tray·ing 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

I can’t stress this too much — rapid-fire squeaks will betray you.

From Washington Blade

Zurek has brainstormed ways that even these pipsqueaks could betray their presence by influencing the behavior of groups of particles.

From Quanta Magazine

I was betrayed, taken advantage of, overworked and underpaid.

From Essence.com

We’re calling on journalists to stop circulating sexist labels that betray women’s skills, insights, & lived experiences as leaders.

From 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.

From Vox

His eyes betray his fear for his daughter and so does his voice.

From The Daily Beast

ISIS abducts boys, breaks them down, forces them to betray their families, then hopes to recruit them into its ranks.

From The Daily Beast

Jones said that as far as he can tell, the article did not betray any secrets.

From The Daily Beast

Three times,” he says angrily, “thou shalt betray me ere the cock crows.

From The Daily Beast

The very source of his tremendous talent and athleticism seemed to betray him.

From The Daily Beast

Any exaggeration into which a feeling of indignation happens to betray the accuser is instantly pounced upon.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the stern, inflexible commander turned to hide an emotion he would have blushed to betray.

From Project Gutenberg

His only chance of ultimate recovery was to push boldly forward, and to betray no fear of failure.

From Project Gutenberg

But all men at times betray themselves, and some betrayals, if scarcely clever, are not without nobility.

From Project Gutenberg

I betray my beloved parent's confidence, to save you from a certain and ignominious death.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abandon
• deceive
• forsake
• mislead
• seduce