The meaning of PRETEND is to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing. How to use pretend in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Pretend.

PRETEND definition: 1. to behave as if something is true when you know that it is not, especially in order to deceive…. Learn more.

To pretend is to create an imaginary characteristic or to play a part: to pretend sorrow. To affect is to make a consciously artificial show of having qualities that one thinks would look well and …

If children or adults pretend that they are doing something, they imagine that they are doing it, for example as part of a game. She can sunbathe and pretend she's in Spain. [VERB that] The …

Pretend definition: to cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so.. See examples of PRETEND used in a sentence.

To pretend is to act as if you're someone else. If you pretend to be your mother for a phone conference with your math teacher, try putting on her high heels to help you get into character.

Sep 18, 2025 · When used as a noun, pretend is almost exclusively preceded by some form of play, as in "playing pretend". Formally, the activity is more likely to be called pretend play, or …

Some common synonyms of pretend are affect, assume, counterfeit, feign, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," pretend implies an …

PRETEND meaning: 1 : to act as if something is true when it is not true; 2 : to imagine and act out (a particular role, situation, etc.)

pretend, n. & adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary