Pretend: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽญ
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pretend

 

[ prษชหˆtษ›nd ]

Verb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

behavior

To behave as if something is the case when it is not.

Synonyms

act, feign, simulate

Examples of usage

  • She pretended to be interested in his stories.
  • He pretended not to notice her disappointment.
  • Don't pretend that you don't care.
Context #2 | Verb

imitation

To make believe; to make a false display of.

Synonyms

play-act, pose, sham

Examples of usage

  • The children pretended to be superheroes.
  • She pretended to be a doctor while playing with her toys.
Context #3 | Noun

acting

An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.

Synonyms

act, make-believe, pretense

Examples of usage

  • His smile was just a pretend to hide his sadness.
  • She saw through his pretend of being happy.

Translations

Translations of the word "pretend" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น fingir

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเคฟเค–เคพเคตเคพ เค•เคฐเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช vortรคuschen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ berpura-pura

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟั€ะธะบะธะดะฐั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ udawaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใตใ‚Šใ‚’ใ™ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท faire semblant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ fingir

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท numara yapmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ฒ™ํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชุธุงู‡ุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ pล™edstรญrat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ predstieraลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ‡่ฃ…

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ pretvarjati se

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รพykjast

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐะปา“ะฐะฝ ะฐะนั‚ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ—แƒแƒ•แƒ˜แƒก แƒ›แƒแƒฉแƒ•แƒ”แƒœแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tษ™lxlik etmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ fingir

Etymology

The word 'pretend' originated from the Latin word 'praetendere', which means 'to extend in front'. Over the years, the meaning evolved to include the idea of making something false appear true. The use of 'pretend' in English dates back to the late 14th century.

See also: pretended, pretender, pretenders, pretending, pretension, pretentious.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,735 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.