pretend
To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Verb 2 meanings
To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
“You don't have to pretend that the soup tastes fine.”
To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).
“The family's exile was intended to stop them pretending to the throne.”
Adjective 1 meaning
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.”
Noun 1 meaning
The act of engaging in pretend play.
“We used to dress up in our grandparents' old clothes and play pretend.”
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand”)), from Latin praetendere (“to put forward, hold out, pretend”), from prae- (“pre-”) + tendō (“stretch”); see tend.
Similar and opposite words
PRETEND at a glance
PRETEND has 7 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (P 3 + R 1 + E 1 + T 1 + E 1 + N 1 + D 2) and 12 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #4,029 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with pretend
All rhymesOne letter away
- PREBEND12
- PREHEND13
- PROTEND10
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