pretend

[pri-tend]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so.

   to pretend illness; to pretend that nothing is wrong.

   Synonyms: counterfeit, sham, fake, simulate

2. to appear falsely, as to deceive; feign.

   to pretend to go to sleep.

3. to make believe.

   The children pretended to be cowboys.

4. to presume; venture.

   I can't pretend to say what went wrong.

5. to allege or profess, especially insincerely or falsely.

   He pretended to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.

verb (used without object)

1. to make believe.

2. to lay claim to (usually followed byto ).

   She pretended to the throne.

3. to make pretensions (usually followed byto ).

   He pretends to great knowledge.

4. Obsolete.,  to aspire, as a suitor or candidate (followed byto ).

adjective

1. Informal.,  make-believe; simulated; counterfeit.

   pretend diamonds.

pretend

/ prɪˈtɛnd /

verb

1. (when tr, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to claim or allege (something untrue)

2. (tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to make believe, as in a play

   you pretend to be Ophelia

3. to present a claim, esp a dubious one

   to pretend to the throne

4. obsolete,  to aspire as a candidate or suitor (for)

adjective

1. fanciful; make-believe; simulated

   a pretend gun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretend¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English pretenden, from Latin praetendere “to stretch forth, put forward, pretend.” See pre-, tend ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretend¹

C14: from Latin praetendere to stretch forth, feign, from prae in front + tendere to stretch

Synonym Study

Pretend, affect, assume, feign imply an attempt to create a false appearance. To pretend is to create an imaginary characteristic or to play a part: to pretend sorrow. To affect is to make a consciously artificial show of having qualities that one thinks would look well and impress others: to affect shyness. To assume is to take on or put on a specific outward appearance, often (but not always) with intent to deceive: to assume an air of indifference. To feign implies using ingenuity in pretense, and some degree of imitation of appearance or characteristics: to feign surprise.

Example Sentences

The TikTok creator is known for posting bizarre videos which often feature him pretending to be a defence lawyer or dressing up as a police officer.

Read more on BBC

And yet, each time he reacts - pointing to the stands, asking referees to act, refusing to pretend it didn't happen - the same voices reappear: "Yes, they insult him, but he should behave better."

Read more on BBC

One of the earliest gags in the show comes when a customer asks for micro braids and the stylists suddenly pretend they are unavailable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Social media’s entire “tradwife” genre is about professional content creators pretending to be submissive housewives to sell advertising.

Read more on Salon

Sir Mel Stride is expected to say in his speech to the party's conference in Manchester that there is "no more pretending we can keep spending money we simply do not have".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• assume 
• bluff 
• feign 
• fool 
• impersonate 
• profess 
• purport 
• put on