pretend
1pre·tend
verb \pri-ˈtend\Definition of PRETEND
transitive verb
1
: to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing <does not pretend to be a psychiatrist>
2
a : to make believe : feign <he pretended deafness> b : to claim, represent, or assert falsely <pretending an emotion he could not really feel>
intransitive verb
1
: to feign an action, part, or role especially in play
2
: to put in a claim <cannot pretend to any particular expertise — Clive Barnes>
Examples of PRETEND
- He had a big stain on his shirt, but I pretended not to notice.
- The children pretended to be asleep.
- She looked like she was enjoying the party but she was just pretending.
- It was a mistake, and to pretend otherwise would be foolish.
- The children were pretending to be animals.
- He pretended to make a phone call.
- Let's just pretend for a moment. I'm your boss. What would you say to me?
Origin of PRETEND
Middle English, from Anglo-French pretendre, from Latin praetendere to allege as an excuse, literally, to stretch out, from prae- pre- + tendere to stretch — more at thin
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to PRETEND
- Synonyms
- dissemble, dissimulate, let on, make out, make a pretense, make a show, make believe, put on an act, put up a front
See Synonym Discussion at assume
Rhymes with PRETEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
2pretend
adjectiveDefinition of PRETEND
1
: imaginary, make-believe <had a pretend pal with whom he talked>
2
: not genuine : mock <pretend pearls>
3
: being a nonfunctional imitation <a pretend train for the children to play in>
Examples of PRETEND
- The children played on a pretend train.
- <if you were to see the movie's pretend jewels in real life, you wouldn't be fooled for a minute>
First Known Use of PRETEND
1911
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