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
Words Nearby betray
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use betray in a sentence
I can’t stress this too much — rapid-fire squeaks will betray you.
Holiday sex in your parents’ house without getting caught | Michael Alvear | December 15, 2020 | Washington BladeZurek has brainstormed ways that even these pipsqueaks could betray their presence by influencing the behavior of groups of particles.
The Search for Dark Matter Is Dramatically Expanding | Charlie Wood | November 23, 2020 | Quanta MagazineI was betrayed, taken advantage of, overworked and underpaid.
Trina Braxton To David Adefeso: ‘When You Attack One, You Attack Us All’ | Hope Wright | September 17, 2020 | Essence.comWe’re calling on journalists to stop circulating sexist labels that betray women’s skills, insights, & lived experiences as leaders.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic | Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostIn the new version, Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent, betrayed by her childhood love and wonderfully, campily bitter about it, fixates on his daughter Aurora.
His eyes betray his fear for his daughter and so does his voice.
Kobani Still Stands Against ISIS and All Odds. But for How Long? | Jamie Dettmer | October 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTISIS abducts boys, breaks them down, forces them to betray their families, then hopes to recruit them into its ranks.
Abducted, Tortured, Indoctrinated: The Tale of a Teen Who Escaped ISIS | Yusuf Sayman | August 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTJones said that as far as he can tell, the article did not betray any secrets.
Fired From Los Alamos for Pushing Obama's Nuclear Agenda | Center for Public Integrity | July 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThree times,” he says angrily, “thou shalt betray me ere the cock crows.
The very source of his tremendous talent and athleticism seemed to betray him.
A Lesson From LeBron James’ Game One Nightmare | Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad | June 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAny exaggeration into which a feeling of indignation happens to betray the accuser is instantly pounced upon.
Children's Ways | James SullyEven the stern, inflexible commander turned to hide an emotion he would have blushed to betray.
His only chance of ultimate recovery was to push boldly forward, and to betray no fear of failure.
But all men at times betray themselves, and some betrayals, if scarcely clever, are not without nobility.
Bella Donna | Robert HichensI betray my beloved parent's confidence, to save you from a certain and ignominious death.
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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