verb
Uncommon
betraying
Betraying (verb) means present participle of betray — breaking someone's trust, giving away a secret, or acting disloyally. Example: “By betraying his friend's confidence, he lost more than the friendship.”
verb
1
Present participle of betray — breaking someone's trust, giving away a secret, or acting disloyally.
"By betraying his friend's confidence, he lost more than the friendship."
"Her nervous laugh was betraying just how worried she really was."
How to use betraying
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe -ing form of "betray," used both as a verb ("he is betraying us") and loosely as a noun for the act itself.
Common pairings
betraying a secret
betraying no emotion
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Word forms
- Plural
- betrayings
- Comparative
- more betraying
- Superlative
- most betraying
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
By _____ his friend's confidence, he lost more than the friendship.
Etymology
This comes from Middle English betraying, bytrayenge, betraȝyng, equivalent to betray plus -ing.
Related words
Rhymes for betraying
See all rhymes for betraying →Frequently asked questions
What does “betraying” mean?
The word “betraying” means present participle of betray — breaking someone's trust, giving away a secret, or acting disloyally. In plain terms, the -ing form of "betray," used both as a verb ("he is betraying us") and loosely as a noun for the act itself.
How do you use “betraying” in a sentence?
Here is “betraying” used in a sentence: “By betraying his friend's confidence, he lost more than the friendship.”
What part of speech is “betraying”?
“Betraying” is a verb.
Is “betraying” a common word?
“Betraying” is an uncommon word in modern English.
