First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1pretend
verb pre·tend \pri-ˈtend\
: to act as if something is true when it is not true
: to imagine and act out (a particular role, situation, etc.)
Full Definition of PRETEND
transitive verb
1
: to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing <does not pretend to be a psychiatrist>
2
a : to make believe : feign <he pretended deafness> b : to claim, represent, or assert falsely <pretending an emotion he could not really feel>
intransitive verb
1
: to feign an action, part, or role especially in play
2
: to put in a claim <cannot pretend to any particular expertise — Clive Barnes>
See pretend defined for English-language learners
See pretend defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of PRETEND
Middle English, from Anglo-French pretendre, from Latin praetendere to allege as an excuse, literally, to stretch out, from prae- pre- + tendere to stretch — more at thin
Related to PRETEND
- Synonyms
- dissemble, dissimulate, let on, make out, make a pretense, make a show, make believe, put on an act, put up a front
Synonym Discussion of PRETEND
assume, affect, pretend, simulate, feign, counterfeit, sham mean to put on a false or deceptive appearance. assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive <assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients>. affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling <affected an interest in art>. pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance <pretended that nothing had happened>. simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something <cosmetics that simulate a suntan>. feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate <feigned sickness>. counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words <an actor counterfeiting drunkenness>. sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible <shammed a most unconvincing limp>.
Rhymes with PRETEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
2pretend
adjective
: not real
Full Definition of PRETEND
1
: imaginary, make-believe <had a pretend pal with whom he talked>
2
: not genuine : mock <pretend pearls>
3
: being a nonfunctional imitation <a pretend train for the children to play in>
See pretend defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PRETEND
1911
PRETEND Defined for Kids
pretend
verb pre·tend \pri-ˈtend\
pre·tend·edpre·tend·ing
Definition of PRETEND for Kids
1
: to make believe <Let's pretend we're riding on a bus.>
2
: to put forward as true something that is not true <She will pretend friendship.>
— pre·tend·er noun
Learn More About PRETEND
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: pretendantPrevious Word in the Dictionary: pretemporalAll Words Near: pretend
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up pretend? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).