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Meaning of pretend
The primary meaning of the word "pretend" is to give a false appearance of something or to represent oneself as something one is not.
Etymology of pretend
The word "pretend" comes from the Old French word "pretendre", which is derived from the Latin words "prae" (before) and "tendere" (to stretch)
The word originally meant "to stretch out before" or "to put forward", and it was used to describe the act of putting forward a claim or making a demand
Over time, the word took on a range of meanings related to deception, disguise, and imagination, and it has been used in English since the 14th century to describe a wide range of activities, from feigning illness to imagining fictional scenarios
Synonyms
Definitions
- To give a false appearance of something, especially in order to deceive or conceal one's true intentions or feelings
- To represent oneself as something one is not, especially in order to gain an advantage or achieve a goal
- To imagine or make believe that something is the case, especially in order to entertain or amuse oneself or others
Usage Examples
- She pretended to be a doctor in order to gain access to the restricted area
- The children pretended to be superheroes, using their imaginations to create a fantasy world
- He pretended to be interested in the conversation, but his mind was elsewhere