Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for betray on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
Origin of betray 1200–50; Middle English bitraien, equivalent to
bi- be- +
traien <
Old French trair <
Latin trādere to betray. See
traitor Related forms be·tray·al , noun be·tray·er , noun pre·be·tray , verb (used with object) pre·be·tray·al , noun self-be·tray·al , noun self-be·tray·ing , adjective un·be·trayed , adjective un·be·tray·ing , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for betrayed abandon ,
mislead ,
forsake ,
deceive ,
seduce ,
reveal ,
jilt ,
cross ,
trick ,
finger ,
bluff ,
desert ,
knife ,
delude ,
disclose ,
show ,
unmask ,
stool ,
evince ,
manifest Examples from the Web for betrayed Contemporary Examples of betrayed 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 of betrayed The major had said nothing, betrayed nothing, only listened intently.
Dick spoke at once, with a hesitancy that betrayed the depth of his emotion.
The indignation of a betrayed tight-rope performer was strong within him.
I have betrayed her secret—But I thought every body knew it!
During your illness, you have betrayed a secret—you have reason to start with horror.
British Dictionary definitions for betrayed to aid an enemy of (one's nation, friend, etc); be a traitor to to 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; fail his tired legs betrayed him to show signs of; indicate if one taps china, the sound betrays any faults to reveal unintentionally his 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) Show More
Derived Forms betrayal , noun betrayer , 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
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Word Origin and History for betrayed 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
