Meaning of pretend


Pronunciation: (pri-tend'), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so: to pretend illness; to pretend that nothing is wrong.
  2. to appear falsely, as to deceive; feign: to pretend to go to sleep.
  3. to make believe: The children pretended to be cowboys.
  4. to presume; venture: I can't pretend to say what went wrong.
  5. to allege or profess, esp. insincerely or falsely: He pretended to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.
  1. to make believe.
  2. to lay claim to (usually fol. by to): She pretended to the throne.
  3. to make pretensions (usually fol. by to): He pretends to great knowledge.
  4. to aspire, as a suitor or candidate (fol. by to).
  1. make-believe; simulated; counterfeit: pretend diamonds.
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