Meanings
verbpretend (third-person singular simple present pretends, present participle pretending, simple past and past participle pretended)
present singular third person pretends · participle present pretending · participle past pretended · past pretended
- intransitiveTo speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.First known use 14th c.
You don't have to pretend to like the soup.
5 more examples
You don't have to pretend that the soup tastes fine.
If you don't like it, say so. You don't have to pretend.
To get into the club, he pretended to be over 18.
"After what past at Upton, so soon to engage in a new amour with another woman, while I fancied, and you pretended, your heart was bleeding for me!"
1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 23, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XVIIIIt's rather like a beautiful Inverness cloak one has inherited. Much too good to hide away, so one wears it instead of an overcoat and pretends it's an amusing new fashion.
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLCSynonyms: make like
- intransitiveTo engage in make-believe.
She didn't have a real piano to play, so she just pretended.
4 more examples
She moved her fingers across the desk, pretending to play the piano.
"The truth is, Ma'am," said Mrs. Grant, pretending to whisper across the table to Mrs. Norris, "that Dr. Grant hardly knows what the natural taste of our apricot is;[…]."
1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter VI, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, pages 111–112I put on shorts, made a hat and feather and got beer mugs. Bridget put a long skirt on and a skarf ^([sic]) and we square danced and pretended singing in German. Great fun!
1965 January 3, Lou Sullivan, DiaryLuster claimed that the women had consented to sex and were only pretending to be asleep.
2003 January 23, Duncan Campbell, The Guardian, LondonSynonyms: make like
- intransitivetransitiveTo feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
She's pretending illness to get out of the business meeting.
4 more examples
He pretended an air of indifference that he'd never assumed before.
This let him know, / Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend / Surprisal.
1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLCDropping one's anger and pretending indifference does not make one objective, only acceptable.
1980 February 9, Charley Shively, “Radical History: Not Radical Enough”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 28, page 12Gap and other clothes manufacturers should stop using small subcontractors because they are difficult to control. Instead, they should open up their own fully-owned production facilities so that they cannot pretend ignorance when abuses are committed.
2007 October 29, The Guardian, LondonSynonyms: make like
- formalintransitiveTo lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).First known use 15th c.
The family's exile was intended to stop them pretending to the throne.
2 more examples
Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.
1682, John Dryden, The MedalPeople observed the diversity of schools and the acerbity of their disputes, and decided that all alike were pretending to knowledge which was in fact unattainable.
1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.25 - obsoletetransitiveTo hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
Lest that too heavenly form, pretended / To hellish falsehood, snare them.
1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC - obsoletetransitiveTo intend; to design, to plot; to attempt.
Such as shall pretend / Malicious practices against his state.
1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i] - obsoletetransitiveTo hold before one; to extend.
Pastorella […] Was by the Captaine all this while defended, / Who, minding more her safety then himselfe, / His target alwayes over her pretended[…].
1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC1 more example
But had thoſe vvits the vvonders of their dayes, / Or that ſvveete Teian Poet [Anacreon] vvhich did ſpend / His plenteous vaine in ſetting forth her [Venus's] prayſe, / Seene but a glims of this, vvhich I pretend, / Hovv vvondrouſly vvould he her face commend, […]
1596, Edm[und] Spenser, “An Hymne of Heavenly Beautie”, in Fowre Hymnes, London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, page 43
adjectivepretend (not comparable)
nounpretend (uncountable)
- childishinformaluncountableThe act of engaging in pretend play.
We used to dress up in our grandparents' old clothes and play pretend.
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Similar
verbTo engage in make-believe.
Similar
verbTo feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
Similar
adjectiveNot really what it is represented as being; imaginary, feigned.
Similar
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveimagined as in a play
Similar
verbmake believe with the intent to deceive
Broader
verbput forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation
Broader
verbrepresent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like
Similar
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*per-
- Proto-Indo-European*preh₂-
- Proto-Indo-European*préh₂i?
- Proto-Italic*prai
- Proto-Italic*prai-
- Latinprae-
- Proto-Indo-European*ten-
- Proto-Indo-European*tend-
- Proto-Indo-European*téndeti
- Proto-Italic*tendō
- Latintendō
- Latinpraetendō
- Anglo-Normanpretendre
- Englishpretend
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.
More words from Anglo-Norman, Middle French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans voorgee, voorgee
- voorgee1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- voorgee1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Arabic اِدَّعَى, زَعَمَ
- اِدَّعَى (iddaʕā)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- زَعَمَ (zaʕama)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- تَظَاهَرَ (taẓāhara)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Bulgarian престру́вам се, претенди́рам
- престру́вам се (prestrúvam se)1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- претенди́рам (pretendíram)2. (intransitive with 'to', formal, originally transitive) To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).
- да́вам вид (dávam vid)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- престру́вам се (prestrúvam se)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- симули́рам (simulíram)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- престорен (prestoren)imaginary
Catalan fingir, fer veure
- fingir1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- fer veure1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Chinese Mandarin 假裝 /假装, 佯裝 /佯装
- 假裝 /假装 (jiǎzhuāng)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- 佯裝 /佯装 (yángzhuāng)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Czech předstírat
- předstírat1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Danish foregive
- foregive1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Dutch voorgeven, doen alsof
- voorgeven1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- doen alsof1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Esperanto hipokriti, komedii
- hipokriti1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- komedii1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Finnish teeskennellä, tekeytyä
- teeskennellä1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- tekeytyä1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- teeskennellä2. (intransitive with 'to', formal, originally transitive) To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).
- teeskennellä1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- olla tekevinään1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- teeskenneltyimaginary
- teeskentelyimaginary
French prétendre à, prétendre
- prétendre à2. (intransitive with 'to', formal, originally transitive) To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).
- prétendre1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- feindre1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- faire semblant1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- pour de fauximaginary
- faire semblantimaginary
German vortäuschen, so tun, als ob
- vortäuschen1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- so tun, als ob1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Greek προσποιούμαι
- προσποιούμαι (prospoioúmai)1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
Hindi ढोंग
- ढोंग (ḍhoṅg)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Hungarian tettet
- tettet1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
Icelandic þykjast, láta eins og
- þykjast1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- láta eins og1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- þykjast1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Indonesian berpura-pura
- berpura-pura1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Irish lig ar, lig ar
- lig ar1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- lig ar1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Italian fingere, fare finta
- fingere1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- fare finta1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Japanese ...の振りをする, 見せ掛ける
- ...の振りをする (...no furi o suru)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- 見せ掛ける (misekakeru)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- 装う (yosōu)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Korean -ㄴ/는/은/인 체하다, -ㄴ/는/은/인 척하다
- -ㄴ/는/은/인 체하다 (-n/-neun/-eun/-in chehada)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- -ㄴ/는/은/인 척하다 (-n/-neun/-eun/-in cheokhada)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Latin simulo, fingo
- simulo1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- fingo1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Malay berlagak, berpura-pura
- berlagak1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- berpura-pura1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Māori whakataruna, whakatakune
- whakataruna1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- whakatakune1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- whakataruna1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- whakangaio1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- whakakikokikoimaginary
Norwegian Bokmål forstille
- forstille1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
Polish udawać, na niby
- udawać1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- na nibyimaginary
Portuguese fingir
- fingir1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Romanian preface, pretinde
- preface1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- pretinde1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Russian претендовать, де́лать вид
- претендовать (pretendovatʹ)2. (intransitive with 'to', formal, originally transitive) To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).
- де́лать вид (délatʹ vid)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- сде́лать вид (sdélatʹ vid)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- притворя́ться (pritvorjátʹsja)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- притвори́ться (pritvorítʹsja)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- прики́дываться (prikídyvatʹsja)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- прики́нуться (prikínutʹsja)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Scottish Gaelic leig air
- leig air1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Slovak predstierať
- predstierať1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Spanish pretender, asacar
- pretender2. (intransitive with 'to', formal, originally transitive) To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).
- asacar1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- aparentar1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- hacer la finta1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- dragonear1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- de mentirijillasimaginary
Swedish låtsas, på låtsas
- låtsas1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- på låtsasimaginary
Tagalog magkunwari, magkunwari
- magkunwari1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- magkunwari1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Tamil நடி
- நடி (naṭi)1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
Turkish numara yapmak, rol yapmak
- numara yapmak1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- rol yapmak1.2. (transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
- kandırmak1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- üç kağıda getirmek1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- uydurmak1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Ukrainian удава́ти, вдава́ти
- удава́ти (udaváty)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
- вдава́ти (vdaváty)1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Vietnamese giả vờ
- giả vờ1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Welsh cogio
- cogio1. (intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with pretend
sendendfriendrecommendweekendspendattendtrendextendtenddependblendbendamenddefendintendsuspendlendappendtranscendcontendcomprehendoffendcommend
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
pretend. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pretend
MLA
“pretend.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pretend. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pretend,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pretend.
Source: pretend on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.