betray

/bəˈtɹeɪ/

Group 3Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To reveal unintentionally; to be evidence of
GRE

Example in Context

The slight tremor in his voice betrayed his nervousness despite his otherwise confident demeanor during the press conference.

Synonyms

deceiverevealexpose

Etymology

To hand over or reveal unintentionally.

  • be- (Old English) — to make
  • tradere (Latin) — to hand over

Memory Aid

🛁Sounds like “be tray

When I accidentally drop a tray of secrets, I BETRAY everything I was trying to keep hidden!

Visual Association

😳A person gasping in shock as they spill a bag of secrets all over a crowded room.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “betray” mean on the GRE?

betray (verb) means “To reveal unintentionally; to be evidence of”. The slight tremor in his voice betrayed his nervousness despite his otherwise confident demeanor during the press conference.

How to remember “betray” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “betray” sounds like “be tray”. When I accidentally drop a tray of secrets, I BETRAY everything I was trying to keep hidden!

What are synonyms for “betray”?

Common synonyms: deceive, reveal, expose.