pretend

About 6.19 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

   You don't have to pretend that the soup tastes fine.

2. verb To engage in make-believe.

   She moved her fingers across the desk, pretending to play the piano.

3. verb To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).

   She's pretending illness to get out of the business meeting.

4. verb To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).

   The family's exile was intended to stop them pretending to the throne.

5. verb To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
6. verb To intend; to design, to plot; to attempt.
7. verb To hold before one; to extend.
8. adjective Not really what it is represented as being; imaginary, feigned.

   As children we used to go on "spying" missions around the neighbour's house, but it was all pretend.

Similar words

feign make-believe sham dissemble affect play unreal act fake persuade

Often followed by

to that you not it i they play he

Word family

pretended pretending pretends