betray
verb (used with object)
to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty.
was betraying
-
past progressiveof betray.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The contacts didn’t show Xiao was betraying his commitments, Gannon replied, arguing the employees in question were lower-level staff, who may have operated without Xiao’s knowledge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
“Young voters felt like this was betraying the climate goals they had set forth,” said Tyler Steinhardt, a vice president at Pique Action, a company that produces social media and mini-documentaries about climate solutions.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2023
After Mrs Rooney posted that someone she trusted was betraying her, Ms Watt wrote to Mrs Vardy: "It wasn't someone she trusted. It was me."
From BBC ● May 19, 2022
Despite the legal protections, her bosses would become visibly frustrated when she was behind on work, “like I was betraying them every day,” she said.
From New York Times ● Oct. 24, 2021
He was betraying Mrs. Coulter’s impatience, of course, and finally she couldn’t hold it in.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
