pretend to (something)
idiom
formal
: to claim that one has (something, such as a quality or ability)
She pretends to a deep religious devotion, but I don't believe her.
—usually used in negative statementsI don't pretend to any expertise in these matters.
Examples of pretend to (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For more on the nature of generative AI personas, such as getting AI to pretend to be Sigmund Freud, see my analysis at the link here.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
China’s youth unemployment is so high that Gen Zers are paying to pretend to work in faux offices across the country.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Williams and Lane portray a gay couple who pretend to be straight to win over their son's (Dan Futterman) fiancée's (Calista Flockhart) conservative parents (Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest).
—Nate Jones, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Was that very painful to pretend to like him and try to work with him?
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend to (something)
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Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
China’s youth unemployment is so high that Gen Zers are paying to pretend to work in faux offices across the country.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Williams and Lane portray a gay couple who pretend to be straight to win over their son's (Dan Futterman) fiancée's (Calista Flockhart) conservative parents (Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest).
—Nate Jones, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Was that very painful to pretend to like him and try to work with him?
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend to (something)
Cite this Entry
“Pretend to (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretend%20to%20%28something%29. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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