pretend (prɪˈtɛnd
)
Definitions
verb
- (when tr, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to claim or allege (something untrue)
- (tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to make believe, as in a play ⇒
you pretend to be Ophelia
- (intr) foll by to to present a claim, esp a dubious one ⇒
to pretend to the throne
- (intr) foll by to obsolete to aspire as a candidate or suitor (for)
adjective
- fanciful; make-believe; simulated ⇒
a pretend gun
Word Origin
C14: from Latin praetendere to stretch forth, feign, from prae in front + tendere to stretchSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
feign,
affect,
assume,
allege,
put on,
fake,
make out,
simulate,
profess,
sham,
counterfeit,
falsify,
impersonate,
dissemble,
dissimulate,
pass yourself off as
Translations
- British English:
pretend
If you pretend that something is true, you try to make people believe that it is true, although it is not.The boy pretended to be asleep.prɪˈtɛnd VERB The boy pretended to be asleep.
- Spanish:
fingir
v
- French:
prétendre
vt
- German:
vorgeben
v
- Chinese: 假装 v
- Arabic: يَتَظَاهَر v
- Portuguese: fingir v
- Russian: притворяться v
- Croatian: pretvarati se v
- Czech: předstírat v
- Danish: foregive v
- Dutch: doen alsof v
- Finnish: teeskennellä v
- Greek: προσποιούμαι v
- Italian: fingere v
- Japanese: ふりをする v
- Korean: ...인 체하다 v
- Norwegian: late som v
- Polish: stowrzyć pozory v stwarzać pozory
- Brazilian Portuguese: fingir v
- European Spanish:
fingir
v
- Swedish: låtsas v
- Thai: แกล้ง v
- Turkish: yapar gibi görünmek v
- Vietnamese: giả vờ v
Usage examples
The second time, she almost managed to pretend that it had never happened.
, CHAMELEON (2002)To pretend it doesn't exist is like pretending you don't get cold or wet.
Yachting Boating World (2005)We play cards, board games, read, pretend everything is all right, speak of nothing.
Globe and Mail (2003)We have been badly served by those who would pretend to lead.
Glasgow Herald (2001)They have never dated but they like to joke and pretend they are lovers to confuse the press.
, DE NIRO: A Biography (2002)