betroth

verb

be·​troth bi-ˈtrōt͟h  -ˈtrȯth 

bē-

betrothed; betrothing; betroths

transitive verb

1

: to promise to marry

2

: to give in marriage

Examples of betroth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When Westley is presumed dead at the hands of pirates, she is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), before being kidnapped by the trio of Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), Fezzik (André the Giant) and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). —David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Apr. 2026

Season 3 starts around four years after high school, when Elordi’s Nate and Sweeney’s Cassie are betrothed and living in that golf-course castle. —Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026

In the film Queen Kelly, produced in 1928-1929, a convent girl is abducted and seduced by a prince betrothed to a mad queen, an event that drastically changes the course of her life. —Karen Leigh, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

That war was triggered when the Mad King’s son, Rhaegar Targaryen, seemingly abducted Lyanna Stark, who was betrothed to Robert Baratheon. —Ryan Brennan april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from be- + trouthe truth, troth

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

betroth

verb

be·​troth bi-ˈträth  -ˈtrȯth 

-ˈtrōth

or with t͟h

: to promise to marry or give in marriage