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

Judge Williams said Villafane charmed his partner and pretended to be caring and generous.

Read more on BBC

"I know that maintaining these thresholds is a decision that will affect working people, I said that last year and I won't pretend otherwise now," she told MPs.

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You can even pretend to switch the gears in models with the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.

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I’m thankful for nights on the couch with my roommates watching “Dancing With the Stars,” when we all pretend to be expert judges and forget about whatever exam or project is waiting for us.

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Every day, I meet families caught between demographic forces they never created, and policies that pretend none of this is happening.

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Related Words

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