betray

[ bih-trey ]

/ bɪˈtreɪ /

See synonyms for: betray / betrayed / betraying / betrayal on Thesaurus.com

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.

SYNONYMS FOR betray

4 bare, expose, tell, divulge.

6 display, manifest, demonstrate, uncover.

See synonyms for betray on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR betray

4, 6 hide, conceal.

See antonyms for betray on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of betray

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English bitraien, equivalent to bi- be- + traien, from Old French trair, from Latin trādere “to betray”; see traitor

OTHER WORDS FROM betray

be·tray·al, nounbe·tray·er, nounpre·be·tray, verb (used with object)self-be·tray·ing, adjective

un·be·trayed, adjectiveun·be·tray·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for betray

Sometimes he betrayed both sides to stay faithful to himself.
The dramatic — and embellished — life of Graham Greene|Michael Mewshaw|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
Three days after Thanksgiving, filmmaker Laura Poitras received a blandly chipper text signaling the end of her time with the media organization she co-founded and which she now says has betrayed its mission.
Laura Poitras says she’s been fired by First Look Media over Reality Winner controversy. Now she’s questioning the company’s integrity.|Sarah Ellison|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
In other words, it is not your body betraying you to the point that it’s denying you your ability to do what you desperately need, and not responding to efforts to fix the problem, and with no end in sight.
Carolyn Hax: A parent pooh-poohs a non-parent’s sleep-deprivation|Carolyn Hax|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
It is not clear whether this trait is part of his normal genetic heritage or whether it betrays awareness of being special.
Onward and upward for the zoo’s giant panda cub|Martin Weil|January 12, 2021|Washington Post

A Capitol officer who was present during the attack said the rank-and-file of the department feel demoralized and betrayed by leadership.
Several Capitol police officers suspended, more than a dozen under investigation over actions related to rally, riot|Aaron Davis, Rebecca Tan, Beth Reinhard|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
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 betray

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 forms of betray

betrayal, 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

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WORD OF THE DAY

betray

verb (used with object)

SYNONYMS FOR betray

ANTONYMS FOR betray

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of betray

OTHER WORDS FROM betray

Example sentences from the Web for betray

British Dictionary definitions for betray

verb (tr)

Derived forms of betray

Word Origin for betray

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

betray

verb (used with object)

SYNONYMS FOR betray

ANTONYMS FOR betray

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of betray

OTHER WORDS FROM betray

Words related to betray

Example sentences from the Web for betray

British Dictionary definitions for betray

verb (tr)

Derived forms of betray

Word Origin for betray