make-believe

[meyk-bi-leev]

noun

1. pretense, especially of an innocent or playful kind; playacting; fantasy.

   the make-believe of children playing.

2. a pretender; a person who pretends.

adjective

1. pretended; feigned; imaginary; made-up; unreal.

   a make-believe world of fantasy.

make believe

verb

1. to pretend or enact a fantasy

   the children made believe they were doctors

noun

1. 1. a fantasy, pretence, or unreality

   2. ( as modifier )

      a make-believe world

2. a person who pretends

Word History and Origins

Origin of make believe¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Idioms and Phrases

Pretend, as in Let's make believe we're elves. This expression in effect means making oneself believe in an illusion. [Early 1700s]

Example Sentences

I’m not brave enough to say it to his face, so I’ll say it in a make-believe breakup scene.

From Los Angeles Times

Not the make-believe, cities-overrun violence that has led to the military in our streets, but real, targeted political violence that has crept into society with increasing frequency.

From Los Angeles Times

He described his testimony as “make-believe” and “stories they wanted to hear.”

From Los Angeles Times

You reserved your best make-believe version of yourself for the times you were in our house.

From BBC

She writes: “It was a dream, going from high school to this incredible universe where I got to play make-believe all day long.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fictional 
• imaginary 
• simulated