make-believe
1 of 2noun
make-be·lieve ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv 
variants or less commonly make-belief
ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēf
: a pretending that what is not real is real
a fiction writer's childish willingness to immerse himself in make-believe
John Updike
John Updikemake-believe
2 of 2adjective
: imaginary, pretended
Synonyms
Adjective
- chimerical
- chimeric
- fabulous
- fanciful
- fantasied
- fantastic
- fantastical
- fictional
- fictitious
- ideal
- imaginal
- imaginary
- imagined
- invented
- made-up
- mythical
- mythic
- notional
- phantasmal
- phantasmic
- phantom
- pretend
- unreal
- visionary
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1794, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1806, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
make-believe 1 of 2
noun
make-be·lieve
ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv
: something that is imagined to be real or true
make-believe
2 of 2adjective
: not real : imaginary
She plays with make-believe friends.
make-believe 1 of 3
adjective
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination zoomed around the house in a make-believe car Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- imaginary
- fictitious
- fictional
- mythical
- imagined
- mythic
- fantasied
- fantastical
- pretend
- ideal
- imaginal
- phantom
- fanciful
- unreal
- invented
- chimerical
- made-up
- phantasmal
- notional
- theoretical
- phantasmic
- legendary
- romantic
- hypothetical
- visionary
- fantastic
- fabulous
- chimeric
- unlikely
- theoretic
- fabled
- abstract
- illusory
- fictive
- unconvincing
- deceptive
- unbelievable
- hallucinatory
- delusive
- envisioned
- phantasmagoric
- conceived
- delusional
- visualized
- concocted
- phantasmagorical
- nonexistent
- envisaged
- pictured
- fabricated
- feigned
- daydreamlike
- inexistent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- real
- actual
- true
- authentic
- existing
- genuine
- existent
- factual
- realistic
- believable
- physical
- convincing
- verifiable
- substantial
- solid
- corporeal
- tangible
- material
- palpable
- verified
make-believe
2 of 3noun
as in fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
- fiction
- simulation
- imitation
- pretense
- representation
- affectation
- imposture
- pretence
- demonstration
- display
- masquerade
- likeness
- pose
- insinuation
- image
- resemblance
- implication
- veneer
- surface
- suggestion
- mask
- disguise
- facade
- cloak
- exterior
- hint
- shell
- front
- effect
- gloss
- air
- shape
- impression
- façade
- seeming
- patina
- Potemkin village
- semblance
- guise
- show
- name
- appearance
- outward
- face
make believe
3 of 3phrase
as in pretend
to present a false appearance of He made believe he was sick to get out of going to school. Synonyms & Similar Words
- pretend
- assume
- simulate
- put on
- affect
- pass (for)
- act
- sham
- feign
- let on
- counterfeit
- dissemble
- bluff
- profess
- pose
- fake
- forge
- conceal
- play
- masquerade
- imitate
- camouflage
- dissimulate
- mask
- impersonate
- disguise
- playact
- feint
- malinger
- shows in
- shows off
- shows out
- shows round
- shows someone around
- shows someone in
- shows someone out
- shows someone round
- shows someone the door
- shows the door
- shows up
- shows up (for)
- shows up for
- showshop
- showstopper
- showstoppers
- showstopping
- showtime
- showtimes
- showy
- showy crab apple
- showy lady's-slipper
- showy ladyslipper
- showy milkweed
- showy orchis