Associations to the word «Pretending»

Wiktionary

PRETEND, verb. To claim, allege, especially when falsely or as a form of deliberate deception. [from 14th c.]
PRETEND, verb. To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.). [from 15th c.]
PRETEND, verb. To lay claim to (an ability, status, advantage, etc.). [from 15th c.] (originally used without to)
PRETEND, verb. To make oneself appear to do or be doing something; to engage in make-believe.
PRETEND, verb. (transitive) (obsolete) To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
PRETEND, verb. (transitive) (obsolete) To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt.
PRETEND, verb. (transitive) (obsolete) To hold before one; to extend.

Dictionary definition

PRETEND, noun. The enactment of a pretense; "it was just pretend".
PRETEND, verb. Make believe with the intent to deceive; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache".
PRETEND, verb. Behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting".
PRETEND, verb. Put forward a claim and assert right or possession of; "pretend the title of King".
PRETEND, 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".
PRETEND, verb. Represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like; "She makes like an actress".
PRETEND, 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".
PRETEND, adjective. Imagined as in a play; "the make-believe world of theater"; "play money"; "dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish".

Wise words

Many a true word is spoken in jest.
Geoffrey Chaucer