betrayed - Master This Word
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betrayed Word Meanings
- to be disloyal to someone
- to reveal secrets
- to violate someone's trust
betrayed Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
betrayed Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/bɪˈtreɪ/
US
/bɪˈtreɪ/
betrayed Word Etymology
be- = about + tray = to draw or pull. Historical origin: Old French 'trahir' from Latin 'tradere' meaning to hand over. Memory image: Imagine a friend pulling away from you while you’re counting on them, drawing back their hand just as you extend yours to trust them.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I set my coffee cup down and turn my chair a little, feeling the room shift as I face a friend. A rumor sits on the edge of my mouth, and I push the words back, then pull them out with a tremor of guilt. I adjust my posture and decide to tell someone what was shared in confidence, and the air changes around us. The weight of that choice lingers, and I fear I might betray a friend's trust.
Real Context
Betray means breaking someone's trust by being disloyal, revealing secrets, or acting against a person who trusted you. You can betray a friend by sharing their confidential information, or betray a partner by cheating. In everyday speech, betray is often used for acts that cause someone to lose faith or feel deeply hurt, such as telling their secrets to others or turning against them under pressure. The nuance ranges from a minor breach of confidence to outright disloyalty in a serious situation, and the word frequently collocates with trust, loyalty, confession, and betrayal itself. Learners should note the moral dimension and context before choosing betray over simpler verbs like reveal or break faith.
Usage Reminders
- Remember the moral weight of betray.
- Use with people you trust or in close relationships.
- Distinguish from reveal/disclose (neutral) vs betray (harmful).
- Common collocations: betray someone's trust, betrayed, betrayal of loyalty.
- Use betrayed/betraying to reflect tense or completed action.
Common Misconceptions
- Betray is only about revealing secrets, not about disloyalty or breaking trust.
- Any mistake or bad act qualifies as betrayal.
- Betray equals cheating in a relationship only.
- Betray means telling a story about someone, not about private information.
- You can betray in casual contexts with acquaintances.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Practice with scenarios of trust and secrets
- Note tense: betray/betrayed/betraying
- Differentiate from reveal/disclose
- Use in formal contexts carefully
- Learn common collocations like 'betray someone's trust'
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