'Pretend' definitions:
Definition of 'pretend'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Imagined as in a play; "the make-believe world of theater"; "play money"; "dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish" [syn: make-believe, pretend]
noun
The enactment of a pretense; "it was just pretend" [syn: make-believe, pretend]
verb
Make believe with the intent to deceive; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache" [syn: feign, sham, pretend, affect, dissemble]
verb
verb
Put forward a claim and assert right or possession of; "pretend the title of King"
verb
Put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation; "I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again"; "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong" [syn: guess, venture, pretend, hazard]
verb
Represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like; "She makes like an actress" [syn: make, pretend, make believe]
verb
State insincerely; "He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt"; "She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber"; "She pretends to be an expert on wine" [syn: profess, pretend]
Definition of 'Pretend'
From: GCIDE
- Pretend \Pre*tend"\, v. i.
- 1. To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; -- usually with to. "Countries that pretend to freedom." --Swift. [1913 Webster]
- For to what fine he would anon pretend, That know I well. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep. "[He] pretended to drink the waters." --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Pretend'
From: GCIDE
- Pretend \Pre*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. pr['e]tendre, L. praetendere, praetentum, to stretch forward, pretend, simulate, assert; prae before + tendere to stretch. See Tend, v. t. ]
- 1. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim. [1913 Webster]
- Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- Lest that too heavenly form, pretended To hellish falsehood, snare them. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship. [1913 Webster]
- This let him know, Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 5. To hold before one; to extend. [Obs.] "His target always over her pretended." --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'pretend'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- act,
- act a part,
- adopt,
- affect,
- aim to,
- allege,
- appropriate,
- arrogate,
- assume,
- attempt,
- attempt to,
- avow,
- bluff,
- challenge,
- claim,
- counterfeit,
- cover up,
- dare,
- dare to,
- dissemble,
- dissimulate,
- do a bit,
- dramatize,
- encroach,
- endeavor,
- fake,
- feign,
- four-flush,
- gammon,
- hazard,
- histrionize,
- infringe,
- invade,
- lay claim to,
- let on,
- let on like,
- make a pretense,
- make as if,
- make believe,
- make bold,
- make free,
- make like,
- make out,
- make out like,
- overact,
- play,
- play a part,
- play a scene,
- play God,
- play possum,
- playact,
- presume,
- pretend to,
- pretext,
- profess,
- protest too much,
- purport,
- put on,
- put on airs,
- represent,
- seek to,
- seize,
- sham,
- simulate,
- strive to,
- study to,
- take over,
- take the liberty,
- trespass,
- try,
- try and,
- try to,
- tug the heartstrings,
- undertake,
- usurp,
- venture,
- venture to,
- wear