betrayed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “betrayed” mean?
To have been shown disloyalty by someone trusted, or to have revealed something (like a secret) against one's interests.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To have been shown disloyalty by someone trusted, or to have revealed something (like a secret) against one's interests.
To have been failed or let down by something that should provide support (e.g., 'betrayed by his own body'), or to unintentionally reveal one's true feelings or intentions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are regionally standard.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of treachery and broken trust in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent; slightly more common in literary/political contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “betrayed” in a Sentence
[Someone] betrayed [someone].[Someone] was betrayed by [someone].[Something] betrayed [his/her feelings/secret].[Someone] felt betrayed.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “betrayed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was utterly betrayed when his confidential memo appeared in the papers.
- Her trembling hands betrayed her calm façade.
American English
- She felt betrayed after learning her partner had lied about the finances.
- The data ultimately betrayed the flaw in their initial hypothesis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of corporate espionage, broken contracts, or leaving a company for a competitor ('The executive felt betrayed when her protégé took clients to the rival firm').
Academic
Used in historical/political analysis ('The treaty betrayed the principles of the revolution'), literary analysis ('The setting betrays the character's inner turmoil'), or psychology.
Everyday
Common in personal relationships, friendships, and family conflicts ('She felt betrayed when her friend shared her secret').
Technical
Rare in highly technical fields; might appear in cybersecurity ('The corrupted file betrayed the system's vulnerability').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “betrayed”
- Incorrect: 'He betrayed to his friend.' Correct: 'He betrayed his friend.' or 'He was betrayed by his friend.'
- Confusing 'betrayed' (past tense/participle) with 'betray' (base form) in conditional sentences.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often serious, it can be used hyperbolically in everyday contexts ('You ate the last biscuit? I feel betrayed!'). It also has a neutral meaning of 'reveal' ('His accent betrayed his origins').
'Deceived' focuses on causing someone to believe something false. 'Betrayed' is stronger, implying a violation of trust or loyalty from someone expected to be faithful. All betrayal involves deception, but not all deception is betrayal.
Yes, in a metaphorical sense. E.g., 'His legs betrayed him' (gave out), 'The old bridge betrayed the engineers' (failed). This means they failed to function as needed or expected.
The key noun is 'betrayal' (the act of betraying). 'Betrayer' is the person who betrays. 'Betrayed' can function as a participle ('I was betrayed') or a descriptive adjective ('a betrayed spouse').
To have been shown disloyalty by someone trusted, or to have revealed something (like a secret) against one's interests.
Betrayed is usually neutral to formal in register.
Betrayed: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈtreɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈtreɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stab in the back”
- “sell down the river”
- “bite the hand that feeds you”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TRAY': Imagine someone you trust carrying a tray with your secrets. If they SPILL the contents (betray you), you feel 'betrayed'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST IS A SOLID OBJECT (shattered/broken); BETRAYAL IS A PHYSICAL WOUND (stabbed in the back); REVEALING SECRETS IS LEAKING (a leak betrays the source).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'betrayed' used to mean 'unintentionally revealed'?