betray

verb be·tray \ bi-ˈtrā , bē- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: betray in a Sentence

Definition of betray

betrayed; betraying; betrays

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

Finally, Schultz’s fixation on entitlement cuts betrays either an ignorance of – or callous indifference to – the bleak finances of America’s retirees.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Democrats Must Reject Howard Schultz and His Radical Centrist Ideology," 6 June 2018
Yet the drama betrays some of the limitations of Hosseini’s writing.

— charles mcnulty, latimes.com, "The women of 'A Thousand Splendid Suns,' casting a spell onstage," 5 June 2018
Stan betrays his wife, Patty (Kate Mara), while making big money working for sleazy Matt Bromley (Van Der Beek).

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'Pose,' 'Dietland' offer strong heroines," 31 May 2018
With his two gun dogs mooching before a wood fire, Wood betrays a certain weariness of the Beaminster rumor mill, which never stops turning.

— david usborne, Town & Country, "The Mysterious Case of the Parnham House Fire," 29 May 2018
But if his goal is to engender trust in Facebook among increasingly hostile regulators, Tuesday's hearing, which left members feeling angry and betrayed, may have only backfired.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "Zuckerberg Ducks Pointed Questions From the EU Parliament," 22 May 2018
In January, Trump found FBI agent Peter Strzok guilty of treason for texting his mistress about the Hillary Clinton investigation in a way that conservatives have argued betrayed a coverup.

— aaron blake, Washington Post, "Trump keeps throwing around the word ‘treason’ — which may not be a great idea," 15 May 2018
Distrusting her loyalty after that, a fellow combatant—her closest friend—betrayed Misas to the Colombian army.

— sara reardon, Scientific American, "Colombia after the Violence," 9 May 2018
The former agent betrayed dozens of Russians to British intelligence before his arrest by Russian authorities in 2004.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Former Missouri City cop on death row denied federal appeal," 2 May 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