betray

[ bih-trey ]

/ bɪˈtreɪ /

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verb (used with object)

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.

Nearby words

Origin of betray

1200–50; Middle English bitraien, equivalent to bi- be- + traien < Old French trair < Latin trādere to betray. See traitor

SYNONYMS FOR betray

4. bare, expose, tell, divulge. 6. display, manifest, expose, uncover.

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ANTONYMS FOR betray

4, 6. hide, conceal.

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Related forms

be·tray·al, nounbe·tray·er, nounpre·be·tray, verb (used with object)pre·be·tray·al, noun

self-be·tray·al, nounself-be·tray·ing, adjectiveun·be·trayed, adjectiveun·be·tray·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for betrayed

A young novelist dies, the American military is betrayed and James Patterson is profiled.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 29-Jan 4, 2014|William Boot|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I had to file for bankruptsy [sic]…To have been betrayed by someone in the Christian Community.
Ponzi-Scheming Pastor Fleeced His Flock Out of Millions|Brandy Zadrozny|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
KABUL, Afghanistan — The girls of Afghanistan have been betrayed.
The West Made Lots of Promises to Afghan Girls, Now It’s Breaking Them|Heather Barr|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her sunny, dimpled smile was betrayed by her hunched, buckled posture.
The Young Girls Escaping the ISIS War|Chandra Kellison|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He called me every single day for a year, but I was so hurt and so betrayed.
Joan Rivers: Our Last Interview|Tim Teeman|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wordsworth, until he began the Ecclesiastical Sonnets, was betrayed by his "penchant for paradox."
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920|Various
I betrayed him, and now I am treated as if I had committed the worst of crimes.
The Honor of the Name|Emile Gaboriau
Contemporary critics have also betrayed a certain concern for some aspects of Lowell's criticism.
Modern American Prose Selections|Various
Again I had betrayed irritation; again the lions saw it, 281 understood it, and remembered.
The Maids of Paradise|Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers
His glance, long and greedy, betrayed how envious of me he was.
The Seven-Branched Candlestick|Gilbert W. (Gilbert Wolf) Gabriel

British Dictionary definitions for betrayed

betray

/ (bɪˈtreɪ) /

verb (tr)

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)

Derived Formsbetrayal, nounbetrayer, 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for betrayed

betray

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.

betray

verb (used with object)

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Origin of betray

Examples from the Web for betrayed

betray

verb (tr)

Word Origin for betray

betray