pretending

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pretend

Pretend is when you act like something or someone that isn't really true. It's a way of imagining or making believe.

When we pretend, we're not saying it's real, but we're having fun with the idea in our heads or acting it out for others to enjoy too. Kids often use pretend play to learn and explore the world around them - they might be a superhero one minute and a pirate the next. Even grown-ups can be playful and pretend sometimes - like when you imagine what your future career will be, but it's not really going to happen just yet!

How common is "pretending"?

Word pretending is considered rare in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.

Definitions

verb

To claim, to allege, especially when falsely or as a form of deliberate deception.
To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).
To lay claim to (an ability, status, advantage, etc.). (originally used without to)
To make oneself appear to do or be doing something; to engage in make-believe.
To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
To intend; to design, to plot; to attempt.
To hold before one; to extend.