English dictionary



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English adjective: pretend

1. pretend imagined as in a play


SamplesThe make-believe world of theater.
Play money.
Dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish.


Synonymsmake-believe


Similarunreal


Antonymsreal, existent


English noun: pretend

1. pretend (act) the enactment of a pretense


SamplesIt was just pretend.


Synonymsmake-believe


Broader (hypernym)feigning, pretence, pretending, pretense, simulation


English verb: pretend

1. pretend (communication) make believe with the intent to deceive


SamplesHe feigned that he was ill.
He shammed a headache.


Synonymsaffect, dissemble, feign, sham


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE.
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE


Broader (hypernym)belie, misrepresent


Narrower (hyponym)bull, bullshit, fake, mouth, play possum, take a dive, talk through one's hat


Verb groupmake, make believe, pretend

2. pretend (creation) behave unnaturally or affectedly


SamplesShe's just acting.


Synonymsact, dissemble


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something


Narrower (hyponym)assume, feign, sham, simulate


Verb groupact, behave, do

3. pretend (possession) put forward a claim and assert right or possession of


SamplesPretend the title of King.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)arrogate, claim, lay claim

4. pretend (communication) put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation


SamplesI am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again.
I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong.


Synonymsguess, hazard, venture


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE


Broader (hypernym)speculate


Narrower (hyponym)anticipate, call, forebode, foretell, predict, prognosticate, promise, surmise, suspect

5. pretend (communication) represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like


SamplesShe makes like an actress.


Synonymsmake, make believe


Pattern of useSomebody ----s that CLAUSE


Broader (hypernym)act, play, represent


Narrower (hyponym)go through the motions


Verb groupaffect, dissemble, feign, pretend, sham

6. pretend (communication) state insincerely


SamplesHe professed innocence but later admitted his guilt.
She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber.
She pretends to be an expert on wine.


Synonymsprofess


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE


Broader (hypernym)claim









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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