pretending

pre·tend

P0546500 (prĭ-tĕnd′)v. pre·tend·ed, pre·tend·ing, pre·tends v.tr.1. To give a false appearance of; feign: "You had to pretend conformity while privately pursuing high and dangerous nonconformism" (Anthony Burgess).2. To claim or allege insincerely or falsely: doesn't pretend to be an expert.3. To represent fictitiously in play; make believe: pretended they were on a cruise.4. To take upon oneself; venture: I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong.v.intr.1. To feign an action or character, as in play.2. To lay claim: pretends to gourmet tastes.adj. Informal Imitation; make-believe: pretend money; pretend pearls.

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[Middle English pretenden, from Old French pretendre, from Latin praetendere : prae-, pre- + tendere, to extend; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

pretending - the act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was only pretending"pretense, feigning, simulation, pretencedissimulation, deception, dissembling, deceit - the act of deceivingshow, appearance - pretending that something is the case in order to make a good impression; "they try to keep up appearances"; "that ceremony is just for show"pretend, make-believe - the enactment of a pretense; "it was just pretend"affectation, affectedness, mannerism, pose - a deliberate pretense or exaggerated displaymasquerade - making a false outward show; "a beggar's masquerade of wealth"