pretend
pretend Lexical Profile
pretend Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
"He closed his eyes and tried to pretend that he was fast asleep."
To engage in imaginative play by acting out a fictional role or situation.
"The children loved to pretend they were astronauts exploring a distant planet."
To lay claim to a quality, title, right, or merit (usually followed by 'to').
"The author does not pretend to have all the answers to such a complex economic problem."
• adjective
Not real or genuine; imaginary or make-believe (used especially in the context of children's play).
"She served her guests a cup of pretend tea from the miniature plastic teapot."
• Rhymes for pretend
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French pretendre, from Latin praetendere ('to stretch forth, hold before, put forward as an excuse'), formed from prae- ('before') and tendere ('to stretch').