pretend
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
pretends;
pretended;
pretending
pretends;
pretended;
pretending
Britannica Dictionary definition of PRETEND
1
:
to act as if something is true when it is not true
[+ object]
-
She pretended (that) she didn't care what other people said about her.
-
I'm going to pretend (that) we never had this conversation.
-
He had a big stain on his shirt, but I pretended not to notice.
-
The children pretended to be asleep.
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She pretended to be angry. = She pretended (that) she was angry.
-
He pretended to be blind. = He pretended [=(more commonly) feigned] blindness.
-
I don't pretend to have all the answers. [=I don't claim that I have all the answers]
-
(formal) He was pretending an emotion he really couldn't feel.
[no object]
-
I don't like having to pretend. = I don't like pretending.
-
She looked like she was enjoying the party but she was just pretending.
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It was a mistake, and to pretend otherwise would be foolish.
2
:
to imagine and act out (a particular role, situation, etc.)
[+ object]
-
Pretend (that) I'm your boss. What would you say?
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The children were pretending to be animals.
-
He pretended to make a phone call.
[no object]
-
Let's just pretend for a moment. I'm your boss. What would you say to me?
pretend to
[phrasal verb]
pretend to (something)
formal
:
to claim that you have (something, such as a quality or ability)
— usually used in negative statements
-
She pretends to a deep religious devotion, but I don't believe her.
-
I don't pretend to any expertise in these matters.
— pretended
adjective-
I wasn't fooled by her pretended indifference.
2
pretend
/prɪˈtɛnd/
adjective
2
pretend
/prɪˈtɛnd/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of PRETEND
informal
:
not real
:
imaginary
-
The little girl has a pretend [=make-believe] friend.
-
The children played on a pretend train.
