Betrayed
/bɪˈtreɪd/
verbB2past tense
Definition
To betray means to break someone's trust by being disloyal or dishonest. It often happens when a person shares secrets, lies, or helps an enemy, causing pain or harm to someone who believed in them.
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⚡ See It in Action
To be disloyal or break trust in a relationship
- •He betrayed his best friend by telling their secret.
- •She felt betrayed when her partner lied about where they were.
- •The soldier was accused of betraying his country.
To help an enemy or act against a group you belong to
- •The spy betrayed his country by giving information to the enemy.
- •During the war, some people betrayed their neighbors to save themselves.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "betrayed" like "hurt," but it is a special kind of hurt that comes from someone you trusted before.
- ✓Picture a close friend who tells your secret to others, making you feel sad and surprised.
- ✓It's the feeling when you expect someone to protect you, but they do the opposite and cause you trouble.
- ✓Sounds like "be-TRAY-ed" → imagine someone putting a tray down to serve you, but then taking it away quickly, leaving you empty-handed.
- ✓In stories, betrayal is when a character who seemed loyal suddenly helps the enemy, causing a big problem.
- ✓NOT like "disagree" (a simple difference in opinion), "betrayed" means breaking trust deeply and personally.
- ✓NOT like "accident" (something unplanned), betrayal is usually a choice to act against someone.
- ✓NOT like "mistake," betrayal is intentional and hurts feelings or safety.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Deceived: caused someone to believe something false (Use when the focus is on tricking someone, not necessarily breaking trust deeply)
- •Cheated: acted dishonestly to gain an advantage (Use when talking about unfair behavior, especially in games or relationships)
- •Double-crossed: secretly betrayed someone who trusted you (Use in situations with secret plans or crime stories)
- •Backstabbed: betrayed someone in a secret and harmful way (Use when betrayal is especially sneaky and painful)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "be-" (a prefix used to make verbs) + "tray" (root from Old French "trahir," meaning to betray) + "-ed" (past tense suffix)
- •Etymology: From Old French "trahir," from Latin "tradere," meaning "to hand over" or "to deliver," originally meaning to give someone to an enemy
- •Historical development: Originally meant handing someone over to an enemy; now it means breaking trust or loyalty more generally
- •Modern usage: Used to describe acts of disloyalty in friendships, relationships, politics, and war
- •Key insight: Betrayal is a strong, personal breaking of trust, often with serious emotional or social effects
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can a person forgive someone who betrayed them? What would it take?
•How does betrayal affect relationships differently than simple mistakes or disagreements?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She felt betrayed because her friend ___ her secret to others without permission.
2.People often feel betrayed when someone they trust ___ with an enemy or rival.
3.Betrayed is stronger than just being lied to because it involves breaking ___.
4.When someone is betrayed, they may feel ___ and lose trust in others.
5.The phrase "betrayed by a close friend" means the person who hurt you was someone you ___.
6.In stories, a character who is betrayed usually faces ___ or danger because of this act.
7.Betrayed often happens on purpose, so it is different from an ___ mistake.