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 by to ):

   She pretended to the throne.

3. to make pretensions (usually followed by to ):

   He pretends to great knowledge.

4. Obsolete. to aspire, as a suitor or candidate (followed by to ).

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. intrfoll byto to present a claim, esp a dubious one

   to pretend to the throne

4. obsolete.
   intrfoll byto 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

“How can anyone pretend that this collection can serve as a reference for anyone?” the collective asks, noting that online dictionaries are both bigger and faster-moving.

From BBC

The real purpose here is to insulate the snowflake-fragile egos of men who cannot feel mighty unless a woman pretends — or is forced to pretend — that she's weak.

From Salon

"I'm not going to pretend that you completely forget about it. It is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my career at least," Genge told BBC Sport.

From BBC

This week’s cold open mocked president-elect Donald Trump by having the cast pretend to support him, and guest host Bill Burr’s monologue could be viewed from different lenses.

From Los Angeles Times

Often, when sensitive stories like this unfold in China, local Communist Party officials organise groups of cadres to pretend to be outraged locals who have been given the role of targeting foreign reporters and preventing any coverage.

From BBC

Related Words

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