Pretended

/prɪˈtɛndɪd/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To make believe; to act as if something is true when it is not.
She pretended to be happy, even though she was feeling sad inside.
To claim or assert something that is not true.
He pretended to know the answer to the question, but he was just guessing.
To feign or simulate for the purpose of deception.
The dog pretended to be injured to lure its owner into the trap.
adjective
Fictitious, not real; intended to deceive.
The pretended threat was just a prank by the teenagers.

Etymology

From Latin 'praetendere', meaning 'to stretch out before, to claim'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

pretend play
a form of play where children use their imagination to create scenarios.
pretend friend
a term for someone who acts as if they are a friend but is insincere.
make pretend
to engage in imaginative play, pretending something is true or exists.

Related Words

pretender
a person who pretends.
pretense
a false display of feelings or intentions.
pretext
a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.

Slang Meanings

faking it
He’s just faking it until he makes it.
putting on a show
She was just putting on a show for the audience.