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pretend

pretend

11 3.6
Play when people imagine things that are not real
  • noun
  • /prɪˈtɛnd/
translation icon : juego imaginario
  • We bring out our whole staff and we have them go through the motions, making pretend burgers and fries.
  • pretend play
  • pretend play behavior
  • pretend play stages

So what's going to happen when that now what I said, what they're doing is they're playing pretend and extend.

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Examples

  • In summary, this research gives valuable insight into the complex relationship between pretend play and intellectual development.

    Academic text (2003)
  • All children increased and maintained their diversity of pretend play and related behaviors after intervention.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Children engage and pretend play very early on in their development.

  • I fell into that, world of pretend.

  • First, were there differences between the groups of children in pretend play development?

    Academic text (2003)
  • In this study, the children generalized pretend play across behaviors, materials, adults, and settings.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Children with disabilities play less often and demonstrate fewer varied pretend play behaviors than children with typical development.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The Creativity subset shows the extent of parental support for children's pretending and imaginative functioning.

    Academic text (1992)
  • During recess, the kids enjoyed engaging in pretend play as they acted out various adventures.

  • Her favorite activity was pretend play, where she would create stories with her dolls.

Synonyms

make-believe
vspretend
33 3.2

Play in which people pretend and imagine stories and roles

is the same idea but used more broadly beyond children
role-play
vspretend
14 3.3

An activity where people pretend to be someone else to practice real situations

is mainly about imaginative play for fun rather than formal practice
pretense
vspretend
  • US
12 6.0

A type of play in which people imagine and act out stories

is focused on imaginative play rather than intellectual exercise
playacting
vspretend
1 5.7

Pretending to be someone, for example in a play or to get attention

is broader, covering imaginative play not limited to staged performance

Antonyms

1.4

The way things really are, not how we imagine or wish

Compounds

pretend tea party
  • Baby Talk
2.7

Children play at having a formal tea with toy cups and pretend food

How Real

in reality
190 3.3
role-play
14 3.3
pretend
11 3.6
fantasy
93 4.3

Surface Forms

pretend singular
pretends plural

Etymology

Pretend comes from old parts pre- 'before' and tend 'stretch', the same root you see in tension and tend. That idea of 'stretching' reality into a story is why pretend can mean make-believe or imaginative play.