pretend

Sentences

Meaning

1. To claim, to allege, especially when falsely or as a form of deliberate deception.
2. To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
3. To lay claim to (an ability, status, advantage, etc.). (originally used without to)
4. To make oneself appear to do or be doing something; to engage in make-believe.
5. (obsolete) To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
6. (obsolete) To intend; to design, to plot; to attempt.
7. (obsolete) To hold before one; to extend.

act as if

allege

put up a front

for form’s sake

lay claim to

pass oneself off

pose as

pretend to

speak falsely

find an excuse

adorn oneself

geign

make like

conceal one’s feelings

wear an expression of

make pretence

fein

> muchengedzi

stop

🛑

play with toy

act like

allege as excuse

be bold

give as an excuse

make as if

make bold

Frequency

Hyphenated as

pre‧tend

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɹəˈtɛnd/

Cognate with French

prétendre

In summary

From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand”)), from Latin praetendere, present active infinitive of praetendō (“put forward, hold out, pretend”), from prae- (“pre-”) + tendō (“stretch”); see tend.

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