Pretend Definition
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"
noun
- the enactment of a pretense; "it was just pretend"
verb
- make believe with the intent to deceive; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache"
- behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting"
- put forward a claim and assert right or possession of; "pretend the title of King"
- 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"
- represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like; "She makes like an actress"
- 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" in song lyrics
See how pretend is used in real songs:
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"So he can tell his man and they won't pretend"
A.D.O.R. — Enter the Center -
"Most don't understand me, they pretend"
Alchemist f/ Dilated Peoples — For the Record -
"Never as girlfriends, though he would pretend"
Alexipharmic — Kings
Words that rhyme with pretend
Usage tips for "pretend"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "pretend" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for pretend to find words that pair well.