betray
B2Formal and informal; common in both spoken and written contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To be disloyal to someone who trusts you, especially by revealing secrets or helping their enemies.
To unintentionally reveal or show something (e.g., feelings, information, a quality) through one's actions or appearance; to fail to protect or be faithful to a principle, country, or cause.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a breach of trust, confidence, or allegiance. Can be used for both deliberate acts of treachery and unconscious revelations. Often carries strong negative moral judgment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling and grammar are identical.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both corpora; slightly more common in political/news contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] betrays [Object (person/cause)][Subject] betrays [Object (person)] to [Recipient (enemy)][Subject] betrays [Object (secret/emotion)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stab in the back”
- “sell down the river”
- “bite the hand that feeds you”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might refer to betraying company secrets or trust within a partnership.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and literature to discuss treachery, espionage, or moral failure.
Everyday
Common in discussions of friendship, relationships, and personal trust.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields outside of specific contexts like cybersecurity ('the software betrays a vulnerability').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He would never betray his mates to the press.
- Her trembling hands betrayed her anxiety.
- The minister was accused of betraying the party's core values.
American English
- She felt her friend had betrayed her confidence.
- A faint smile betrayed his true feelings.
- The agent betrayed his country for money.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. Use phrases like 'in a betraying manner'.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. Use phrases like 'treacherously' or 'disloyally'.
adjective
British English
- The betrayed spouse sought legal advice.
- He spoke with a betrayed tone of voice.
American English
- She had a betrayed look in her eyes.
- The betrayed voters turned against the candidate.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I will never betray you.
- Why did you betray my secret?
- The spy betrayed his country.
- She felt betrayed when her best friend lied to her.
- His nervous glance betrayed his guilt before he said a word.
- The politician was accused of betraying the principles upon which he was elected.
- The translation betrays a subtle misunderstanding of the original text's cultural context.
- By accepting the dubious funding, the institute betrayed its commitment to independent research.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BE a TRAitor'. To BETRAY someone is to BE a TRAitor to them.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (you can break it, betray it); LOYALTY IS A PHYSICAL BOND (you can sever it).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'предавать' meaning 'to hand over' in a neutral sense (e.g., передать документы). 'Betray' is exclusively negative.
- The noun 'betrayal' maps closely to 'предательство'.
- The weaker sense of 'unintentionally reveal' (e.g., 'betray his nerves') has no direct single-word equivalent in Russian and requires paraphrase.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'He betrayed his friend with telling the secret.' Correct: 'He betrayed his friend by telling the secret.'
- Confusing 'betray' with 'cheat on' (specifically for romantic infidelity). 'Betray' is broader.
- Using the past tense as 'betrayed' (correct) not *'betray'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'betray'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can describe major treachery (like treason), it is commonly used for personal breaches of trust between friends, family, or colleagues.
Rarely. It is almost always a transitive verb (e.g., 'He betrayed her'). Intransitive use is archaic or poetic.
'Cheat' often implies breaking rules (in a game, exam) or romantic infidelity. 'Betray' is broader, focusing on breaking trust or loyalty in any context, not just romantic.
Yes, in the extended sense. An action (e.g., a smile, a shaky voice) can 'betray' a feeling or secret, meaning it reveals it unintentionally.