[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/betoken/)

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# betoken

verb (betoken, betokens, betokened, betokening), formal

«betoken» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(formal) To be a sign of something; to show that something is true or is going to happen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/#m1)

### In the lessons

A stiff, old-fashioned word found in classic stories and exam texts: dark clouds betoken a storm; a smile betokens friendship. In everyday talk people say «be a sign of» or «show».

### Examples

- Dark clouds betokened a storm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/#x1)
- His silence betokened anger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/#x2)
- The gift betokened her thanks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/#x3)
- Red sky at night is said to betoken fine weather. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/#x4)
- The empty streets betokened that something was wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/#x5)
- From the mountain-path came a joyous sound of some person whistling, and it betokened good humor and undaunted courage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/#x6)

### Note

Formal and rare. Regular verb: betokened. Everyday words: show, mean, be a sign of.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «betoken» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betoken/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«betoken» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/betoken.html) on Mova free.