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pretends

  • present tense form
    of pretend (3rd person singular).
    pretend
    verb (used with object)
    to cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so.

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.

See Examples For:

"He is not happy, he pretends he is happy," said Tamim.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

“He’s not crazy, he only pretends to be” isn’t a viable defense in the real world.

From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2026

Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the country's biggest unions, verbally attacked Mullin at a 2023 hearing, calling him a "greedy CEO who pretends like he's self-made".

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026

He is not the muscular president he pretends to be on television.

From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2026

Bernard says, and pretends to throw the shot at me.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée