pretend
verb (used with object)
to cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so.
pretending
-
present participleof pretend.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The phone call had come from Amacher—the man now complaining the situation has been blown out of proportion—who said he had called the center, pretending to be a member of Talarico’s family.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
Scammers pretending to be legitimate workmen are charging homeowners thousands of pounds for roofing work that is not completed, done badly or not necessary, according to Citizens Advice.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
El-Sayed has figured out how to talk to the people who love Fox without pretending that the network is something it isn’t.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
In one, she holds up a finger covered in red marker to look like blood, pretending to be a patient who asks how much stitches will cost, and is later shocked by the bill.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
We were walking to the snack corner during morning break, me pretending I didn’t notice as we passed Kekeli and her friends behind the classrooms, getting ready for a game of ampé as usual.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
