verb
betray
bih-TRAY
verb
1
To be disloyal to someone who trusts you, especially by helping their enemies or breaking a promise.
"He betrayed his best friend by leaking their secret plans."
"She felt betrayed when her business partner sold the company behind her back."
2
To reveal something unintentionally.
"His trembling hands betrayed how nervous he really was."
How to Use Betray
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo break someone's trust, or to accidentally reveal a feeling or secret.
Common pairings
betray a trust
betray a secret
betray one's feelings
Word Forms
betrayed past tense, betrays singular
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Etymology
From Middle English betrayen, built from "be-" plus an old word meaning "to betray," ultimately related to "traitor" and "treason."