betrayverb [ T ]
usuk/bɪˈtreɪ/betray verb [ T ] (NOT LOYAL)
B2 to not be loyal to your country or a person, often by doing something harmful such as helping their enemies:
He was accused of betraying his country during the war.
She felt betrayed by her mother's lack of support.
For years they betrayed the UK's secrets to Russia.
formal He promised never to betray his wife (= never to leave her for another person).
formal If someone betrays something such as a promise, they do not do what they promised:
The president has been accused of betraying his election promises.
By staying out so late, they have betrayed my trust (= disappointed me because I had trusted them not to).
More examples
- Vargas plays the part of treacherous aristocrat who betrays his king and country.
- Didn't he feel guilty about betraying his fellow countrymen and women?
- I trusted him and he betrayed me.
- After a bitter ten-year campaign, William Wallace was betrayed and executed in London in 1305.
- At the height of Stalin's rule, children were encouraged to betray their parents.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Disloyalty, betrayal & treason
- adultery
- backstabber
- betrayal
- break ranks idiom
- collaborate
- deserter
- desertion
- double-cross
- faithless
- false
- fifth column
- high treason
- sell sb down the river idiom
- sellout
- stab
- stab sb in the back idiom
- traitor
- treacherous
- treachery
- treasonable
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Making & breaking promises & commitments
betray verb [ T ] (SHOW)
to show feelings, thoughts, or a particular characteristic without intending to:
If he is nervous on stage, he does not betray it.
Although she often seems quite cold, her smiling eyes betray her true nature.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- disclose
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- prove
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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