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0 English - Monolingual Dictionary

Betray

bəˈtreɪ
Common
~ 4600
~ 4600, Common
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
to be disloyal to someone's trust or confidence, to reveal or disclose confidential information or secrets, to show evidence of something contrary to what was promised or believed

Betray - Meanings

to be disloyal to someone's trust or confidence

Example: He felt deeply hurt when his best friend betrayed him by revealing his secret to everyone.
Usage: formalContext: relationships, friendships, politics
Note: This meaning implies breaking trust or being unfaithful to someone.

to reveal or disclose confidential information or secrets

Example: She betrayed her company's secrets to their competitors.
Usage: formalContext: business, espionage
Note: In this context, 'betray' is often used in a negative sense to indicate a breach of trust.

to show evidence of something contrary to what was promised or believed

Example: The smile on his face betrayed his true feelings of sadness.
Usage: informalContext: emotions, expressions
Note: This meaning refers to unintentionally revealing or giving away information.

Betray's synonyms

deceive

To deceive means to cause someone to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage.
Example: He deceived his friend by pretending to support him.
Note: While betraying involves breaking trust or loyalty, deceiving involves misleading or tricking someone.

mislead

To mislead means to give the wrong idea or impression to someone, leading them to believe something that is not true.
Example: The false promises misled the investors into making poor decisions.
Note: Misleading someone may not necessarily involve a breach of trust or loyalty as in betraying.

Betray expressions, common phrases

backstab

To backstab someone is to betray them in a deceitful or treacherous manner, often when they least expect it.
Example: I can't believe she backstabbed her best friend like that.
Note: This term emphasizes the sudden and unexpected nature of the betrayal.

sell out

To sell out means to betray one's principles or loyalty for personal gain or advantage.
Example: He was once a loyal supporter, but he sold out to the highest bidder.
Note: This phrase often implies that the betrayal was motivated by greed or self-interest.

stab in the back

To stab someone in the back is to betray them secretly or deceitfully.
Example: She felt like she had been stabbed in the back when her colleague took credit for her work.
Note: This expression conveys the feeling of betrayal as a sudden and painful act.

double-cross

To double-cross someone is to betray them by deceiving them or acting against their interests after gaining their trust.
Example: He double-crossed his business partner by working with their competitor behind their back.
Note: This term suggests a deliberate and calculated act of betrayal involving deceit and manipulation.

sell down the river

To sell someone down the river is to betray or abandon them, especially in a difficult situation, often for personal gain.
Example: He felt like his colleagues sold him down the river by blaming him for the project's failure.
Note: This phrase originated from the practice of selling slaves down the Mississippi River, indicating a severe betrayal.

turn traitor

To turn traitor means to betray one's allegiance, often by working against a group or cause.
Example: He turned traitor and revealed the group's plans to the authorities.
Note: This term specifically refers to betraying a cause, organization, or group, rather than an individual.

sell someone out

To sell someone out is to betray them by revealing their secrets or turning them over to authorities.
Example: She sold him out to save herself from punishment.
Note: This phrase often implies a betrayal for personal gain or to avoid consequences.

Betray everyday (slang) expressions

rat on

To inform on or betray someone by giving incriminating information about them to an authority figure.
Example: He decided to rat on his friends and tell the police everything he knew.
Note: This term is more specific to providing information to authorities or others that will result in harm or punishment for the person being informed on.

two-time

To betray someone's trust by secretly having a romantic or sexual relationship with another person.
Example: She felt hurt when she found out he had been two-timing her with another woman.
Note: This term specifically refers to being unfaithful in a romantic or intimate relationship.

cross

To betray or deceive someone, especially a friend or trusted individual.
Example: She crossed her best friend by spreading rumors about her behind her back.
Note: In slang, 'cross' can also imply a deliberate act of betrayal rather than a general sense of disloyalty.

snitch

To betray someone by disclosing information about their actions or plans to others, especially when done secretly or without permission.
Example: He was labeled a snitch after revealing the group's plans to the opposing team.
Note: 'Snitch' often carries a negative connotation as it implies informing on someone to gain an advantage or avoid negative consequences for oneself.

stab in the front

To betray someone openly or directly, without hiding one's true intentions.
Example: She thought they were friends, but they ended up stabbing her in the front when they started spreading lies about her.
Note: This term plays on the common phrase 'stab in the back', but emphasizes the betrayal happening openly rather than covertly.

turn informer

To become an informer or informant, providing information to authorities or others about criminal activities or wrongdoing.
Example: He decided to turn informer to reduce his own sentence, revealing key information about the criminal organization he belonged to.
Note: This term suggests a more formal or structured act of betrayal, often involving legal or criminal implications.

sell stories

To betray someone by sharing personal or confidential information about them, often for financial gain or personal benefit.
Example: She made money by selling stories about her celebrity ex-husband to the tabloids, betraying his trust.
Note: This term specifically relates to revealing personal details or stories about someone, usually for public consumption or media attention.

Betray - Examples

He felt betrayed by his best friend.
She betrayed her country by selling state secrets.
The company's CEO was accused of betraying the trust of his employees.

Betray grammar

Betray - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)
Lemma: betray
Conjugations
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): betrayed
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): betraying
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): betrays
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): betray
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): betray
Syllabification and Stress
betray Contains 2 syllables: be • tray
Phonetic transcription: bi-ˈtrā
be tray , bi ˈtrā (The red syllable is stressed)

Betray - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
betray: ~ 4600 (Common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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