definitions

pretended

[ pri-ten-did ]
/ prɪˈtɛn dɪd /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pretended ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

insincerely or falsely professed: a pretended interest in art.
feigned, fictitious, or counterfeit: His pretended wealth was proved to be nonexistent.
alleged or asserted; reputed.

RELATED CONTENT

fake newsRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Did You Know How This Word Was Formed?Words are funny things. Here are some that might not mean what you thought ... at least when they were originally formed.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

mock, fake, professed, counterfeit, cheating, assumed, avowed, masked, affected, concealed, quack, pretend, feigned, supposed, simulated, sham, falsified, lying, purported, bluffing

Nearby words

pretarsus, pretax, preteen, pretence, pretend, pretended, pretender, pretense, pretension, pretensive, pretentious

Origin of pretended

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at pretend, -ed2

Related forms

pre·tend·ed·ly, adverbself-pre·tend·ed, adjectiveun·pre·tend·ed, adjective

Definition for pretended (2 of 2)

pretend

[ pri-tend ]
/ prɪˈtɛnd /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

Informal. make-believe; simulated; counterfeit: pretend diamonds.

Origin of pretend

1325–75; Middle English pretenden < Latin praetendere to stretch forth, put forward, pretend. See pre-, tend1

SYNONYMS FOR pretend

1 simulate, fake, sham, counterfeit. 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.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pretend ON THESAURUS.COM

Can be confused

portend pretend (see synonym study at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pretended

British Dictionary definitions for pretended

pretend

/ (prɪˈtɛnd) /

verb

(when tr, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to claim or allege (something untrue)
(tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to make believe, as in a playyou pretend to be Ophelia
(intr foll by to) to present a claim, esp a dubious oneto pretend to the throne
(intr foll by to) obsolete to aspire as a candidate or suitor (for)

adjective

fanciful; make-believe; simulateda pretend gun

Word Origin for pretend

C14: from Latin praetendere to stretch forth, feign, from prae in front + tendere to stretch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012