Betray Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Published on August 6, 2025
Betray refers to expose someone to danger by disclosing their secret or disloyally failing to defend them. e.g., He felt betrayed when his friend revealed his secret to others.
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Betray Definitions
To mislead someone by presenting something false as true.
The advertisement betrayed consumers with its exaggerated claims.
To act unfaithfully or disloyally towards someone who trusts you.
By siding with the competitors, he betrayed his own team.
Not to support or defend someone in a crucial moment.
In not speaking up, he felt he had betrayed his friend's trust.
To disclose confidential information to unauthorized persons.
She betrayed her company's secrets, jeopardizing their operations.
To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against
Betray one's country.
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To inform upon or deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance
"City investigators betrayed him to his bosses as a whistle-blower" (Selwyn Raab).
To be false or disloyal to
Betrayed a cause.
Betray one's spouse.
To divulge in a breach of confidence
Betray a secret.
To make known unintentionally
Her hollow laugh betrayed her contempt for the idea.
To lead astray; deceive
"She felt somewhat like a woman who in a moment of passion is betrayed into an act of infidelity" (Kate Chopin).
(transitive) To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly.
An officer betrayed the city
(transitive) To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive.
To betray a person or a cause
Quresh betrayed Sunil to marry Nuzhat.
My eyes have been betraying me since I turned sixty.
(transitive) To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which one is bound in honor not to make known.
(transitive) To disclose or indicate, for example something which prudence would conceal; to reveal unintentionally.
Though he had lived in England for many years, a faint accent betrayed his Swedish origin.
(transitive) To mislead; to expose to inconvenience not foreseen; to lead into error or sin.
(transitive) To lead astray; to seduce (as under promise of marriage) and then abandon.
To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly; as, an officer betrayed the city.
Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men.
To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive; as, to betray a person or a cause.
But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me.
To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which one is bound in honor not to make known.
Willing to serve or betray any government for hire.
To disclose or discover, as something which prudence would conceal; to reveal unintentionally.
Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue, lest you betray your ignorance.
To mislead; to expose to inconvenience not foreseen to lead into error or sin.
Genius . . . often betrays itself into great errors.
To lead astray, as a maiden; to seduce (as under promise of marriage) and then abandon.
To show or to indicate; - said of what is not obvious at first, or would otherwise be concealed.
All the names in the country betray great antiquity.
Reveal unintentionally;
Her smile betrayed her true feelings
Deliver to an enemy by treachery;
Judas sold Jesus
The spy betrayed his country
Disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake;
His sense of smell failed him this time
His strength finally failed him
His children failed him in the crisis
Be sexually unfaithful to one's partner in marriage;
She cheats on her husband
Might her husband be wandering?
Give away information about somebody;
He told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam
Cause someone to believe an untruth;
The insurance company deceived me when they told me they were covering my house
To break a promise or fail to uphold a commitment.
The government betrayed the public's trust by not implementing the promised reforms.
To inadvertently reveal or give evidence of something.
His nervous glance betrayed his uncertainty.
To guide someone into a harmful or dangerous situation.
The guide betrayed the tourists into a perilous area of the city.
In a relationship, to be unfaithful to one's partner.
He was heartbroken to discover she had betrayed him with his best friend.
To reveal something accidentally or without intending to.
Her smile betrayed her true feelings about the news.
To hand over someone or something to an enemy or opponent.
The traitor betrayed the fortress to the invading forces.
Betray Snonyms
Cross
To betray; used especially in the context of betraying associates by not supporting them.
He crossed his companions by revealing their plans.
Backstab
To betray someone's trust, especially from a position of friendship.
She couldn't believe her best friend would backstab her like that.
Mislead
To lead or guide wrongly, often by intention.
The documents were designed to mislead the investigation.
Cheat
To act dishonestly or unfairly to gain an advantage.
He cheated in the game, betraying everyone's trust.
Two-time
To be unfaithful in a romantic relationship.
She discovered he was two-timing her with someone else.
Reveal
To make known something that was previously secret or unknown.
The report revealed the company's unethical practices.
Deceive
To make someone believe something that is not true.
The spy deceived his handlers for years.
Double-cross
To deceive or betray someone one had promised to help or support.
Feeling double-crossed, he vowed never to trust them again.
Sell out
To betray one's principles or companions, especially for personal gain.
Fans accused the artist of selling out when he signed with the major label.
Undermine
To weaken or work against secretly or indirectly.
His actions served to undermine the team's efforts.
Betray Idioms & Phrases
Betray a confidence
To disclose a secret that someone has trusted you to keep.
He never forgave her for betraying a confidence.
Betray into enemy hands
To deliver someone or something to an adversary.
The spy betrayed military secrets into enemy hands.
Betray trust
To destroy the trust that someone has in you.
By lying, you've completely betrayed my trust.
Betray an innocence
To inadvertently reveal one’s lack of knowledge or experience.
His questions betrayed an innocence about the real world.
Betray oneself
To reveal one’s own true nature, often unintentionally.
In his anger, he betrayed himself.
Betray one's colors
To reveal one’s true nature or intentions.
In the crisis, he betrayed his colors as a true leader.
Betray the cause
To act against the principles or objectives one previously supported.
By negotiating with the enemy, he was accused of betraying the cause.
Betray Example Sentences
She couldn't believe he would betray her trust like that.
Betray not only your friends but also your principles, and you have nothing left.
The spy had to betray his country to protect his family.
The characters in the novel must learn who they can trust and who will betray them.
Betray your fears to no one if you wish to overcome them.
When you betray someone's confidence, you damage a relationship deeply.
To betray a friend is one of the worst things someone can do.
She would rather face any punishment than betray her comrades.
Betray no hesitation; your enemies will exploit it.
To betray a secret is to break a bond of trust.
Asking her to betray her ideals was asking her to betray herself.
History is full of leaders who rose to power only to betray those who supported them.
To betray one's heart is to deny one's true desires.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called "betray"?
"Betray" comes from the Old French word "trair," derived from the Latin "tradere," meaning to hand over or deliver. It has evolved to mean the act of revealing, deceiving, or being disloyal to someone who trusts one.
How do we divide "betray" into syllables?
"Betray" is divided into syllables as "be-tray."
How is "betray" used in a sentence?
"Betray" is used to describe the act of being unfaithful or disloyal, e.g., He would never betray his friend's trust.
How many syllables are in "betray"?
There are 2 syllables in "betray."
What is the verb form of "betray"?
The verb form of "betray" is "betray," with its past tense and past participle forms being "betrayed."
What is the root word of "betray"?
The root of "betray" is the Latin word "tradere," meaning to hand over or deliver.
What is a stressed syllable in "betray"?
The second syllable "tray" is the stressed syllable in "betray."
What is the third form of "betray"?
The third form of "betray," used as the past participle in perfect tenses, is "betrayed."
What is the singular form of "betray"?
As a verb, "betray" does not change form between singular and plural subjects; it remains "betray."
What is the pronunciation of "betray"?
"Betray" is pronounced as /bɪˈtreɪ/.
What is the first form of "betray"?
The first (base) form of "betray" is "betray," which is used to describe the act of revealing, deceiving, or being disloyal.
What is the plural form of "betray"?
The verb "betray" does not have a plural form; it is used the same way regardless of the subject's number.
Is "betray" an adverb?
No, "betray" is not an adverb.
Is "betray" a negative or positive word?
"Betray" is generally considered a negative word, as it implies deceit, disloyalty, or treachery.
Is "betray" a countable noun?
"Betray" is not a noun; it is a verb and does not have a countable form.
Is the word "betray" Gerund?
Yes, when "betray" is used with an -ing ending as in "betraying," it functions as a gerund (noun form), e.g., "Betraying a friend is the quickest way to end a friendship."
What is the opposite of "betray"?
The opposite of "betray" could be "support," "defend," or "protect," depending on the context.
Is "betray" an abstract noun?
"Betray" is not a noun; it is a verb, so it cannot be classified as an abstract noun.
Is "betray" a vowel or consonant?
The word "betray" starts with a consonant.
Is "betray" a collective noun?
No, "betray" is a verb and not a collective noun.
Is the "betray" term a metaphor?
"Betray" can be used metaphorically to describe actions or situations where trust is broken or deception occurs.
Is the word "betray" imperative?
"Betray" can be used in the imperative mood when giving a command or instruction, although it is rare, e.g., "Do not betray your friends."
Which determiner is used with "betray"?
Determiners are not typically used directly with "betray" since it is a verb. Determiners would precede the noun object of "betray."
Which conjunction is used with "betray"?
Conjunctions such as "and" or "but" can be used in sentences involving "betray," depending on the sentence structure.
What is another term for "betray"?
Another term for "betray" is "deceive."
Is the word “betray” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In a sentence, "betray" is the verb, so it does not serve as a direct or indirect object. However, the object of the verb "betray" can be either direct or indirect, depending on what or whom is being betrayed.
Which preposition is used with "betray"?
Prepositions such as "to" and "by" can be used with "betray," depending on the context, e.g., "betrayed to the enemy," "betrayed by a friend."
What is the second form of "betray"?
The second form of "betray" is "betrayed," which is the simple past tense of the verb.
What part of speech is "betray"?
"Betray" is a verb.
Is "betray" a noun or adjective?
"Betray" is a verb. It is not commonly used as a noun or adjective.
Which vowel is used before "betray"?
The vowel or article used before "betray" depends on the noun that follows the verb, not "betray" itself.
Which article is used with "betray"?
Articles are not used directly with "betray" since it is a verb; articles would be used with the noun objects of the verb.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
