betided; betiding; betides
: to happen especially as if by fate
: to happen to : befall
—used chiefly in the phrase woe betide
woe betide our enemies
Examples of betide in a Sentence
we will be happy in our new home, whatever may betide
Recent Examples on the Web
Disney recommends paying between 18% and 20% for service and woe betide anyone who tries to avoid that charge.
—
Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Woe betide the piece of content that risks entering the market as something wholly unfamiliar.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024
Woe betide the ally who runs afoul of American progressive opinion.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 29 Mar. 2023
Woe betide any companion who tried to talk to him.
—Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022
Yet another reason is that Washington bureau chiefs and other representatives of upper management often strategize with White House reporters about what to ask, and woe betide the White House reporter who blows off the bosses’ suggestions just because too many cooks spoiled the broth.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2022
Critics have been sent the season’s first four episodes, but woe betide anybody who spoils much of anything about this run of backstabbing adventures in the realm of excess.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
This is a standard that the women themselves are keenly aware of, and woe betide the MILF who doesn’t fit the bill.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2023
If loans to today’s students are forgiven, tomorrow’s students will have every reason to expect the same break—and woe betide the politician who says no to them.
—WSJ, 7 July 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Woe betide the piece of content that risks entering the market as something wholly unfamiliar.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024
Woe betide the ally who runs afoul of American progressive opinion.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 29 Mar. 2023
Woe betide any companion who tried to talk to him.
—Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022
Yet another reason is that Washington bureau chiefs and other representatives of upper management often strategize with White House reporters about what to ask, and woe betide the White House reporter who blows off the bosses’ suggestions just because too many cooks spoiled the broth.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2022
Critics have been sent the season’s first four episodes, but woe betide anybody who spoils much of anything about this run of backstabbing adventures in the realm of excess.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
This is a standard that the women themselves are keenly aware of, and woe betide the MILF who doesn’t fit the bill.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2023
If loans to today’s students are forgiven, tomorrow’s students will have every reason to expect the same break—and woe betide the politician who says no to them.
—WSJ, 7 July 2022
Articles Related to betide
Cite this Entry
“Betide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/betide. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
betide
verb
be·tide
bi-ˈtīd 
betided; betiding
: to happen or happen to
woe betide you if they ever find out what you've done
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share