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to betray

to betray

111 4.1
Give people or information to an enemy
  • verb
  • /bɪˈtreɪ/
translation icon : traicionar a
  • At one point they chose to betray their own country.
  • betray an ally

He was one of the few people who betrayed his country, Athens.

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Examples

Synonyms

to sell
vsto betray
  • Informal
642 7.9

To betray someone for personal gain

delivers a person to an enemy through treacherous disloyal action
to sell someone out
vsto betray
  • Informal
109 5.9

Betray someone by telling their secrets to others for personal gain

involves handing someone to an enemy rather than exposing secrets or withdrawing help
to double-cross
vsto betray
32 6.5

Betray someone who trusts you after pretending to help them

focuses on handing someone to an enemy rather than breaking trust after false support
to sell down the river
vsto betray
  • Informal
12 8.8

To betray someone to get something for yourself

focuses on delivering to an enemy rather than on seeking personal gain
to backstab
vsto betray
  • Informal
5 6.6

To secretly betray someone who trusts you

focuses on handing a person to an enemy rather than on secret personal deceit
to cut someone's throat
vsto betray
  • Offensive
8.4

To betray or hurt someone to get an advantage

focuses on giving a person to an enemy rather than harming them for gain

Antonyms

1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

503 1.3

Strong and lasting support for a person, group, or idea

How Treacherous

to betray
111 4.1
to sell out
  • Informal
55 6.8

Surface Forms

betray infinitive
betraying present participle
betrays third person singular
betrayed past
betrayed past participle

Etymology

Betray originally often meant to 'hand over to the enemy', a very direct and physical idea of giving someone away. That's why one meaning of 'betray' is to deliver a person or information to an enemy.