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Definition of "pretend" []

  • To give a false appearance of; feign: "You had to pretend conformity while privately pursuing high and dangerous nonconformism” ( Anthony Burgess). (verb-transitive)
  • To claim or allege insincerely or falsely; profess: doesn't pretend to be an expert. (verb-transitive)
  • To represent fictitiously in play; make believe: pretended they were on a cruise. (verb-transitive)
  • To take upon oneself; venture: I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong. (verb-transitive)
  • To feign an action or character, as in play. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "pretend" in a sentence
  • "They are about "Theocracy" or getting whatever fossil they have designated the power to dictate to everybody whatever spew he wishes to pretend is the word of "god"."
  • "What you idiots pretend is that this was some sort of isolated incident that was not supported by the governments."
  • "So, typically, I tried to find something that I can at least pretend is a bit healthier, like grilled chicken wraps."