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Pretend

//pɹəˈtɛnd// adj, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Not really what it is represented as being; imaginary, feigned. not-comparable

    "As children we used to go on "spying" missions around the neighbour's house, but it was all pretend."

Adjective
  1. 1
    imagined as in a play wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    The act of engaging in pretend play. childish, informal, uncountable

    "We used to dress up in our grandparents' old clothes and play pretend."

  2. 2
    the enactment of a pretense wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance. intransitive

    "You don't have to pretend that the soup tastes fine."

  2. 2
    state insincerely wordnet
  3. 3
    To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.; To engage in make-believe. intransitive

    "She moved her fingers across the desk, pretending to play the piano."

  4. 4
    make believe with the intent to deceive wordnet
  5. 5
    To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.; To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.). intransitive, transitive

    "She's pretending illness to get out of the business meeting."

Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like wordnet
  2. 7
    To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.). formal, intransitive

    "The family's exile was intended to stop them pretending to the throne."

  3. 8
    put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation wordnet
  4. 9
    To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. obsolete, transitive

    "Lest that too heavenly form, pretended / To hellish falsehood, snare them."

  5. 10
    behave unnaturally or affectedly wordnet
  6. 11
    To intend; to design, to plot; to attempt. obsolete, transitive

    "Such as shall pretend / Malicious practices against his state."

  7. 12
    put forward a claim and assert right or possession of wordnet
  8. 13
    To hold before one; to extend. obsolete, transitive

    "Pastorella […] Was by the Captaine all this while defended, / Who, minding more her safety then himselfe, / His target alwayes over her pretended[…]."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand”)), from Latin praetendere (“to put forward, hold out, pretend”), from prae- (“pre-”) + tendō (“stretch”); see tend.

Etymology 2

From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand”)), from Latin praetendere (“to put forward, hold out, pretend”), from prae- (“pre-”) + tendō (“stretch”); see tend.

Etymology 3

From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand”)), from Latin praetendere (“to put forward, hold out, pretend”), from prae- (“pre-”) + tendō (“stretch”); see tend.

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