English Meaning & Definitions
To be disloyal to someone who trusts you, or to break a promise or confidence.
- “He felt deeply hurt when his closest friend betrayed his secrets.”
- “She promised never to betray her country.”
To reveal or make visible something unintentional, such as an emotion, weakness, or secret.
- “His trembling hands betrayed his underlying nervousness.”
- “A slight smile betrayed her amusement despite her stern look.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “betray”.
Middle English 'betrayen', from Old English 'bētrǣwan' (to deceive), formed from the intensive prefix 'bi-' and 'trǣwan' (to deceive, related to 'treowian' meaning to trust or truth). It eventually merged in sense with the Old French 'traïr' (from Latin 'tradere', to hand over, deliver).
Think of 'be' + 'tray': If you *tray* someone badly, you might *betray* their trust.
Frequently Asked Questions About “betray”
1. What is the meaning of “betray” in English?
In English, betray (verb) is defined as: “To be disloyal to someone who trusts you, or to break a promise or confidence.”.
2. How do you use “betray” in a sentence?
“He felt deeply hurt when his closest friend betrayed his secrets.”
3. What are English synonyms of “betray”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “betray”?
Middle English 'betrayen', from Old English 'bētrǣwan' (to deceive), formed from the intensive prefix 'bi-' and 'trǣwan' (to deceive, related to 'treowian' meaning to trust or truth). It eventually merged in sense with the Old French 'traïr' (from Latin 'tradere', to hand over, deliver).
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.