betray
[bih-trey]
- 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.
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Origin of betray
Synonyms
See more synonyms for betray on Thesaurus.com4. bare, expose, tell, divulge. 6. display, manifest, expose, uncover.
Antonyms
4, 6. hide, conceal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for betrayed
Contemporary Examples
A young novelist dies, the American military is betrayed and James Patterson is profiled.
I had to file for bankruptsy [sic]…To have been betrayed by someone in the Christian Community.
KABUL, Afghanistan — The girls of Afghanistan have been betrayed.
Her sunny, dimpled smile was betrayed by her hunched, buckled posture.
He called me every single day for a year, but I was so hurt and so betrayed.
Historical Examples
The major had said nothing, betrayed nothing, only listened intently.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Dick spoke at once, with a hesitancy that betrayed the depth of his emotion.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
The indignation of a betrayed tight-rope performer was strong within him.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
I have betrayed her secret—But I thought every body knew it!
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
During your illness, you have betrayed a secret—you have reason to start with horror.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
betray
- 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)
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for betrayed
betray
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper