Sekirov Dictionary

pretend

/pɹəˈtɛnd/

verb 7
adjective 1
noun 1
forms 5

verb7

•
to act or speak in a false way, so that others think something is real when it is not
- You don't have to pretend that the soup tastes fine.
- You don't have to pretend to like the soup.
•
To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- She's pretending illness to get out of the business meeting.
- He pretended an air of indifference that he'd never assumed before.
•
To engage in make-believe.
- She moved her fingers across the desk, pretending to play the piano.
- She didn't have a real piano to play, so she just pretended.
•
(formal) To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).
- The family's exile was intended to stop them pretending to the throne.
•
(no longer used) To intend; to design, to plot; to attempt.
- Such as shall pretend / Malicious practices against his state. — 1591
•
(no longer used) To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
- Lest that too heavenly form, pretended / To hellish falsehood, snare them. — 1667
•
(no longer used) To hold before one; to extend.
- Pastorella […] Was by the Captaine all this while defended, / Who, minding more her safety then himselfe, / His target alwayes over her pretended[…]. — 1596

adjective1

•
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.

noun1

•
(informal) The act of engaging in pretend play.
- We used to dress up in our grandparents' old clothes and play pretend.

forms

pretended · pretending · pretendeth · pretends · pretendest

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