make-be·lieve
ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv 
variants
or less commonly make-belief
: a pretending that what is not real is real
a fiction writer's childish willingness to immerse himself in make-believe—
John Updike
John Updike
Synonyms
Examples of make-believe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
As a bonus, this reusable fake is a fun prop to keep around for make-believe doctor visits.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Retailers love make-believe shopping holidays, and the latest is the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
So how about, say, Southern California, the birthplace of American make-believe and the modern theme park?
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Lucky for those of us who think of wellness lifestyles as spiritual make-believe for people with money, those are still the kinds of songs Musgraves wants to write.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
But Take Note This block set includes several small figurines, which can encourage an autistic child to engage in make-believe play and strengthen their social skills.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024
Born in Nigeria in 1984 and raised in London, she is best known for spinning classical fairy tales into new forms, not to clumsily revise their politics in the way of the who-asked-for-this Disney reboots, but to use make-believe to defamiliarize all that we have been made to believe.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2024
Stella is available in various skin tones and comes with a magnetic pacifier that little ones can use for make-believe play.
—Christine Luff, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024
Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Video-game make-believe becomes heinous when presented as realistic TV drama.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Mar. 2023
Life doesn’t work out the way one wishes, even for make-believe characters.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2023
Noun
The only perfect candidates live in voters’ imaginations, or as make-believe characters in movies, TV shows and books.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
As a bonus, this reusable fake is a fun prop to keep around for make-believe doctor visits.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Retailers love make-believe shopping holidays, and the latest is the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
So how about, say, Southern California, the birthplace of American make-believe and the modern theme park?
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Lucky for those of us who think of wellness lifestyles as spiritual make-believe for people with money, those are still the kinds of songs Musgraves wants to write.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
But Take Note This block set includes several small figurines, which can encourage an autistic child to engage in make-believe play and strengthen their social skills.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024
Born in Nigeria in 1984 and raised in London, she is best known for spinning classical fairy tales into new forms, not to clumsily revise their politics in the way of the who-asked-for-this Disney reboots, but to use make-believe to defamiliarize all that we have been made to believe.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2024
Stella is available in various skin tones and comes with a magnetic pacifier that little ones can use for make-believe play.
—Christine Luff, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Yet in the past, intimate scenes in theater, film and television were rarely treated with the same mindfulness as a make-believe duel.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Video-game make-believe becomes heinous when presented as realistic TV drama.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Mar. 2023
Life doesn’t work out the way one wishes, even for make-believe characters.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'make-believe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near make-believe
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make-believe. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
make-believe
1 of 2 noun
make-be·lieve
ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv
: a pretending to be another person or character (as in the play of children)
make-believe
2 of 2 adjective
: imaginary
was only a make-believe lion
More from Merriam-Webster on make-believe
Nglish: Translation of make-believe for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of make-believe for Arabic Speakers
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