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单词 betray
释义

betray

verb

be·​tray bi-ˈtrā How to pronounce betray (audio)
bē-
betrayed; betraying; betrays

transitive verb

1
: to lead astray
especially : seduce
a nation betrayed into violence
a teenager betrayed by a much older man
2
: to deliver to an enemy by treachery
was betrayed to the authorities by one of his students
betraying one's own country
3
: to fail or desert especially in time of need
betrayed his family
felt that she would be betraying her principles
You've betrayed our trust.
4
a
: to reveal unintentionally
betray one's true feelings
b
: show, indicate
His best columns betray … the philosophical bent of his mind. John Mason Brown
c
: to disclose in violation of confidence
betray a secret

intransitive verb

: to prove false
betrayer
bi-ˈtrā-ər How to pronounce betray (audio)
bē-
noun

Synonyms

  • backstab
  • cross
  • double-cross
  • sell (out)
  • two-time
See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

They betrayed their country by selling its secrets to other governments. She is very loyal and would never betray a friend. She betrayed her own people by supporting the enemy. She coughed, betraying her presence behind the door.
Recent Examples on the Web Levis know if his eyes lock in on a target and betray his intentions. Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2022 After the fall of the Berlin Wall, a former spy killer is set free and embarks on a revenge spree against the people who conspired to betray her. Rodney Ho, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 Peele’s Hollywood movies attract viewers but then betray them. Armond White, National Review, 22 July 2022 Today, that’s an act of rebellion in a society that gaslights young women into getting preventative Botox and lip fillers, that tells us to hate natural bodies, to live in a hole of denial that our bodies will betray us all in the end. Sarah Grant, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2022 Six years into the war, Mr. Putin turned the chief mufti of Chechnya to betray the rebel cause. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 Don John arranges for Claudio to witness a pseudo-tryst on a balcony in which Hero appears to betray her betrothed with a lover on the night before their wedding. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2022 In 2020, there were a few left in the Republican party that refused to betray the country. San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2022 Dril’s tweets, in their tendency to betray a persecution complex, used to draw frequent comparisons to those of the former President Donald Trump, now banned from Twitter. Colin Marshall, The New Yorker, 17 June 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from be- + trayen to betray, from Anglo-French trahir, from Latin tradere — more at traitor

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

betray

verb

be·​tray bi-ˈtrā How to pronounce betray (audio)
betrayed; betraying
1
: to give over to an enemy by treason or treachery
betray a fort
2
: to be unfaithful to
betray a friend
betrayed our trust
3
: to reveal or show without meaning to
betray fear
4
: to tell in violation of a trust
betray a secret

betray

verb

1
as in to backstab
to be unfaithful or disloyal to childhood friends of movie stars often betray them by telling their secrets to the supermarket tabloids

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
  • backstab
  • cross
  • double-cross
  • shop
  • sell (out)
  • stab in the back
  • give away
  • sell down the river
  • two-time
  • turn in
  • peach
  • snitch (on)
  • go back on
  • split (on)
  • inform (on)
  • tell (on)
  • rat (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

  • protect
  • defend
  • safeguard
  • save
  • guard
  • stand by
  • shield
See More
2
as in to reveal
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs his face betrayed his exasperation with his nosy neighbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • reveal
  • display
  • show
  • demonstrate
  • expose
  • evince
  • manifest
  • communicate
  • declare
  • disclose
  • bespeak
  • give away
  • proclaim
  • uncover
  • bare
  • announce
  • sound
  • advertise
  • uncloak
  • unbosom
  • publicize
  • air
  • broadcast
  • trumpet
  • project
  • blaze
  • placard

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

  • misrepresent
  • distort
  • belie
  • falsify
  • disguise
  • conceal
  • twist
  • hide
  • camouflage
  • obscure
  • occlude
  • cover
  • gild
  • whitewash
  • mask
  • veil
  • garble
  • gloss (over)
  • varnish
  • counterfeit
See More
3
as in to tempt
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage she was betrayed by a false show of friendship into covering up the crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • tempt
  • seduce
  • persuade
  • lure
  • entice
  • beguile
  • solicit
  • bait
  • lead on
  • allure
  • decoy
  • fascinate
  • entrap
  • ensnare
  • inveigle
  • trap
  • enchant
  • draw in
  • enmesh
  • captivate
  • bewitch
  • tangle
  • snow
  • catch
  • mesh
  • snare
  • charm
  • magnetize
  • wile
  • immesh
  • rope (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

  • warn
  • ward (off)
  • alert
  • caution
  • forewarn
  • drive (away or off)
  • turn away
  • repulse
See More

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of betray are disclose, divulge, reveal, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

Although the words disclose and betray have much in common, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

While the synonyms divulge and betray are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

While in some cases nearly identical to betray, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

The words tell and betray are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard
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更新时间:2024/12/26 10:14:49