Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - betray

(betrays, betraying, betrayed) 1. If you betray someone who loves or trusts you, your actions hurt and disappoint them. When I tell someone I will not betray his confidence I keep my word... The President betrayed them when he went back on his promise not to raise taxes. VERB: V n, V n • betrayer (betrayers) She was her friend and now calls her a betrayer. N-COUNT 2. If someone betrays their country or their friends, they give information to an enemy, putting their country’s security or their friends’ safety at risk. They offered me money if I would betray my associates... The group were informers, and they betrayed the plan to the Germans. VERB: V n, V n to n • betrayer ‘Traitor!’ she screamed. ‘Betrayer of England!’ N-COUNT 3. If you betray an ideal or your principles, you say or do something which goes against those beliefs. We betray the ideals of our country when we support capital punishment. VERB: V n • betrayer Babearth regarded the middle classes as the betrayers of the Revolution. N-COUNT 4. If you betray a feeling or quality, you show it without intending to. She studied his face, but it betrayed nothing... ? conceal VERB: V n