betray
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 deceive, misguide, or corrupt: a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly.
to seduce and desert.
Origin of betray
1Other words for betray
Opposites for betray
Other words from betray
- 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use betray in a sentence
Otherwise, it betrayed no sign that snow would finally fall on the morrow.
On Saturday, blue sky gave few signs of gathering storm | Martin Weil | January 31, 2021 | Washington PostThe dimming and wobbling of TOI-178′s star betrayed the presence of six exoplanets packed tightly together.
These 6 exoplanets somehow orbit their star in perfect rhythm | Charlie Wood | January 27, 2021 | Popular-ScienceSome — composed of hastily torn cardboard, crammed, messy Sharpie writing and excesses of duct tape around the edges — betray the sense of urgency that went into their creation.
At Baltimore’s Reginald F. Lewis Museum, a show on recent history that’s urgently of the moment | Kelsey Ables | January 27, 2021 | Washington PostThe latter theme is sometimes punctuated with anecdotes from distraught parents who have been led to believe that their children are being betrayed by an unenlightened educational establishment.
Is there really a ‘science of reading’ that tells us exactly how to teach kids to read? | Valerie Strauss | January 26, 2021 | Washington PostConsidered more closely, however, the two days betrayed their differences.
Tuesday, Inauguration Eve, was a lot like Friday, yet different | Martin Weil | January 20, 2021 | Washington Post
Apple used to count Google as an ally, but now views Google as a sneaky betrayer.
Apple’s Move to Spite Google and Use Its Own Map Software Hurts Customers | Dan Lyons | June 21, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTIf I see anything that toucheth me, shall I come forth a betrayer of myself presently?
Discoveries Made Upon Men and Matter | Ben JonsonHer pride did not even allow her to admit that the girl had gone away after her betrayer.
The Life of Thomas Wanless, Peasant | Alexander Johnstone WilsonHe was back in the office forthwith, and in the next morning's issue denounced his betrayer.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete | Albert Bigelow PaineIt had been horrible to fancy for a moment that this man whom she despised in her heart could be her mother's betrayer.
Guy Kenmore's Wife and The Rose and the Lily | Mrs. Alex McVeigh MillerNo inconsistency about a woman betrayed executing vengeance on her betrayer!
The Substitute Prisoner | Max Marcin
British Dictionary definitions for betray
/ (bɪˈtreɪ) /
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)
Origin of betray
1Derived forms of betray
- betrayal, noun
- betrayer, noun
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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