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

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / betray

# betray

verb (betray, betrays, betrayed, betraying)

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

## Everyday

1. To betray someone is to hurt them by being disloyal, for example by telling their secret, breaking a promise or helping their enemy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#m1)
2. To betray your country is to help its enemies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#m2)
3. To betray a feeling is to show it without meaning to: «Her shaking hands betrayed her fear.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#m3)
4. A thing that is hidden can be betrayed when it is revealed by accident, so that others can see the truth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories and history, betrayal is a big theme: a friend tells the villain where the hero is hiding (Judas, Edmund in Narnia). In friendships, betraying a trust (sharing a secret, laughing behind someone's back) hurts. But safety lessons say: telling a trusted adult about a bad secret or danger is NOT betraying a friend. Phrases: «betray a secret», «betray someone's trust», «feel betrayed».

### Examples

- He betrayed his friend by telling everyone her secret. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x1)
- I felt betrayed when she broke her promise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x2)
- Edmund betrayed his brother and sisters to the witch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x3)
- The spy betrayed his country. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x4)
- Her red face betrayed her embarrassment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x5)
- Don't betray the trust people give you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x6)
- His voice betrayed how nervous he was. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x7)
- Telling an adult about a dangerous secret is not betraying anyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x8)
- A false tale often betrays itself. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betray/#x9)

### Note

Past: betrayed (keep the y). Noun: betrayal; person: traitor. Good secrets (a surprise party) are kept; bad secrets (someone is hurting you) should be told to an adult.

## In Jewish tradition

In stories and history, betrayal is a big theme: a friend tells the villain where the hero is hiding (Judas, Edmund in Narnia). In friendships, betraying a trust (sharing a secret, laughing behind someone's back) hurts. But safety lessons say: telling a trusted adult about a bad secret or danger is NOT betraying a friend. Phrases: «betray a secret», «betray someone's trust», «feel betrayed».

### Examples

- 'Give counsel, execute justice; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; betray not the fugitive. (Prophets ISA.16.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/betray/#x1)

### Note

Past: betrayed (keep the y). Noun: betrayal; person: traitor. Good secrets (a surprise party) are kept; bad secrets (someone is hurting you) should be told to an adult.

## On Mova

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