# betray

/bɪˈtɹeɪ/ (US) · /bɪtɹˈeɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/betray
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

to hurt someone who trusts you by doing something dishonest or helping their enemy. It can also mean to show a secret or a feeling that you were trying to hide.

For teachers: to violate the confidence of a person or group by providing information or assistance to an adversary; alternatively, to reveal a secret or emotion unintentionally.

## Examples

- He promised to keep the secret, but he decided to betray her.
- The spy was caught after he tried to betray his country by selling classified documents to a foreign power.
- Although she maintained a calm and professional exterior during the negotiation, a slight tremor in her voice began to betray her growing anxiety about the deal's potential collapse.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He betrayed from his friend" but "He betrayed his friend" — Betray is a transitive verb and takes a direct object without a preposition.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as a person, a cause, or a secret.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.