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Glite Dictionary
🎭 To act falsely 🗣️ To claim 🧸 Imaginary 🧸 Make-believe
to pretend

to pretend

89 3.9
To say you know or can do something when you do not
  • verb
  • /prɪˈtɛnd/
translation icon : pretender
  • You pretended it was to give people more choice, but actually it was just to make you fabulously rich.

I know that I pretended that I knew it all.

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Examples

  • She tried to pretend she understood the joke, even though she was confused.

  • "Americans can no longer afford to pretend that they live in a great society" ... and then nothing.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • But some people need to learn how to pretend to like a name.

  • So he or she has to pretend to be nice.

  • And I would ask you to pretend that you do not come from the Earth.

  • I shall pretend this conversation never took place.

    Conclave (2024)

  • Then you should definitely pretend to be someone else.

    Academic text (2017)

  • I still pretend to disdain it all.

  • "You want me to pretend to be this man Wilson?" asked Tom incredulously.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • When they heard visitors approaching, they turned their faces to the wall and pretended to be asleep.

    Fiction book (1994)

Synonyms

to lie
vsto pretend
∞ 1.3

To say something that is not true to trick someone

is about making uncertain statements, not necessarily to deceive
to claim
vsto pretend
∞ 2.3

To say something is true, often without proof

is used for declaring rights, titles, or opinions beyond mere ownership
to allege
vsto pretend
  • Literature
497 5.3

To say that something is true without giving proof

is used for declaring rights or opinions often without certainty
to assert
vsto pretend
229 3.9

To clearly and firmly say your needs or opinions

is used when the speaker lacks certainty rather than showing confidence
to fake
vsto pretend
217 4.8

To pretend you know something when you do not

is used for making statements without certainty rather than deliberate insincerity
to purport
vsto pretend
  • Formal
69 8.0

To claim to be or do something, often without proof

is the general way to state uncertain matters, not only about self
to feign
vsto pretend
40 7.2

Pretend to feel something, like surprise or interest, to trick other people

is about declaring uncertain facts, not about acting like feelings
to make out
vsto pretend
  • Informal
27 6.0

To pretend or claim something is true when it is not

is more general about stating uncertain facts not only false presentation
to simulate
vsto pretend
20 6.7

Pretend to have a feeling to trick people

is used for stating uncertain rights or opinions not imitating feelings
to lay claim
vsto pretend
18 4.4

Say you have a right to something like land or money

is used for uncertain statements about many things, not only formal rights
to make believe
vsto pretend
17 3.8

Pretend something is real for fun or play

is used for uncertain statements about rights or opinions not playful imagination

Phrasal Verbs

to pretend not to notice
5 5.6

To act as if you do not see something to avoid making someone feel embarrassed

to play pretend
  • Baby Talk
4 2.9

Act as if you are someone or something imaginary

Compounds

pretend tea party
  • Baby Talk
2.7

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

How Certain

to insist
∞ 2.8
to assert
229 3.9
to pretend
89 3.9
claim
818 3.3
to propose
∞ 3.0
to suggest
∞ 2.1

Surface Forms

pretend infinitive
pretended past
pretended past participle
pretending present participle
pretends third person singular

Etymology

Pretend comes from old parts pre- 'before' and tend 'stretch', the same root you see in tension and tend. It once had the idea of 'stretching out' a claim, so one meaning of pretend is to say or claim something even when you are not sure it is true.