betray

[bih-trey]

verb (used with object)

1. to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty.

   Benedict Arnold betrayed his country.

2. to be unfaithful in guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling.

   to betray a trust.

3. to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to.

   to betray one's friends.

4. to reveal or disclose in violation of confidence.

   to betray a secret.

   Synonyms: divulge, tell, expose, bare
   Antonyms: conceal, hide

5. to reveal unconsciously (something one would preferably conceal).

   Her nervousness betrays her insecurity.

6. to show or exhibit; reveal; disclose.

   an unfeeling remark that betrays his lack of concern.

   Synonyms: uncover, demonstrate, manifest, display
   Antonyms: conceal, hide

7. to deceive, misguide, or corrupt.

   a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly.

8. to seduce and desert.

betray

/ bɪˈtreɪ /

verb

1. to aid an enemy of (one's nation, friend, etc); be a traitor to

   to betray one's country

2. to hand over or expose (one's nation, friend, etc) treacherously to an enemy

3. to disclose (a secret, confidence, etc) treacherously

4. to break (a promise) or be disloyal to (a person's trust)

5. to disappoint the expectations of; fail

   his tired legs betrayed him

6. to show signs of; indicate

   if one taps china, the sound betrays any faults

7. to reveal unintentionally

   his grin betrayed his satisfaction

8. to reveal one's true character, intentions, etc

9. to lead astray; deceive

10. euphemistic,  to seduce and then forsake (a woman)

Other Word Forms

• betrayal noun
• betrayer noun
• prebetray verb (used with object)
• self-betraying adjective
• unbetraying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of betray¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of betray¹

C13: from _be- + trayen from Old French trair , from Latin trādere

Example Sentences

Rare are the characters who emerge on the other side of a story in which they betray a vulnerable figure – for entirely logical reasons, mind you – and still be loved by the audience.

From Salon

Even in that love triangle, we never betrayed Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

The day after, on 19 August, Netanyahu ramped up his rhetoric against Albanese, describing him as a "weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews".

From BBC

Fail that test and many will assume you might betray them on other critical issues in the future.

From Los Angeles Times

“If we destroy our sacred land and poison our environment, we are betraying our children and grandchildren and hurting ourselves,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon 
• deceive 
• forsake 
• mislead 
• seduce