betray

verb be·tray \ bi-ˈtrā , bē- \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of betray

transitive verb

1 : to lead astray; especially : seduce

a nation betrayed into violence

a teenager betrayed by a much older man

2 : to deliver to an enemy by treachery

was betrayed to the authorities by one of his students

betraying one's own country

3 : to fail or desert especially in time of need

betrayed his family

felt that she would be betraying her principles

You've betrayed our trust.

4 a : to reveal unintentionally

betray one's true feelings

b : show, indicate

His best columns betray … the philosophical bent of his mind.
—John Mason Brown

c : to disclose in violation of confidence

betray a secret

intransitive verb

: to prove false

—

betrayal

play \bi-ˈtrā(-ə)l, bē-\ noun

—

betrayer

play \bi-ˈtrā-ər, bē-\ noun

See betray defined for English-language learners

See betray defined for kids

Examples of betray in a Sentence

They betrayed their country by selling its secrets to other governments.
She is very loyal and would never betray a friend.
She betrayed her own people by supporting the enemy.
She coughed, betraying her presence behind the door.

Recent Examples of betray from the Web

Trump has angered his America First base in the past This isn’t the first time that many of Trump’s anti-interventionist supporters have felt betrayed by his foreign policy actions.

— zeeshan aleem, Vox, "Trump’s America First media allies think he has betrayed them with the Syria strike," 15 Apr. 2018
Called the magnetosphere, this sheath is normally invisible to human eyes—except near the planet’s poles, where shimmering, eerie lights in the nighttime skies betray its presence.

— robert ormerod, National Geographic, "Why Space Fans Flock to This Eerie Landscape," 9 Apr. 2018
Brian Brightman smartly makes Eddie’s darker actions a tad more understandable by letting his pained face shows the hurt of a man betrayed by his own weaknesses.

— matthew j. palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'A View From the Bridge' boils with the intensity of all-too-human weakness," 24 Mar. 2018
Some of the victims spoke in court about being betrayed by Heffernan.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Insurance fraud of $1.4 million lands agent in prison for 9 years," 7 Mar. 2018
Yet lying in the hospital bed, the machine's slow beeps betraying the hopes that Loa would be able to bring her husband home, Larry was still a winner.

— sarah bowman, Indianapolis Star, "'Tragic consequences': new bill could rob asbestos disease victims of rights to seek justice," 25 Feb. 2018
His grandparents helped to hide Jews from the Nazis, but the fugitives were eventually spotted and betrayed by other Poles.

— alan murray, Fortune, "Online Education, Sony CEO, CBS-Viacom: CEO Daily for February 2, 2018," 2 Feb. 2018
On the one hand there were these young victims, and the way they were betrayed by the doctor and his enablers; on the other hand there was this creep who got away with it for years.

— andrew cohen, New Republic, "Judging Larry Nassar," 25 Jan. 2018
To read her testimony is to believe she was betrayed by people responsible for her protection.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville's courageous Rachael Denhollander brought Nassar to justice | Tim Sullivan," 25 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'betray.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of betray

Middle English, from be- + trayen to betray, from Anglo-French trahir, from Latin tradere — more at traitor

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

betray Synonyms

Phrases

go back on, stab in the back;

Synonym Discussion of betray

reveal, disclose, divulge, tell, betray mean to make known what has been or should be concealed. reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

- divine will as revealed in sacred writings

disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

- candidates must disclose their financial assets

divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

- refused to divulge an anonymous source

tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

- told them what he had overheard

betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

- a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

BETRAY Defined for English Language Learners

betray

verb

Definition of betray for English Language Learners

: to give information about (a person, group, country, etc.) to an enemy
: to hurt (someone who trusts you, such as a friend or relative) by not giving help or by doing something morally wrong
: to show (something, such as a feeling or desire) without wanting or trying to