Search Result for "pretend": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. the enactment of a pretense;
- Example: "it was just pretend"
[syn: make-believe, pretend]


VERB (6)

1. make believe with the intent to deceive;
- Example: "He feigned that he was ill"
- Example: "He shammed a headache"
[syn: feign, sham, pretend, affect, dissemble]

2. behave unnaturally or affectedly;
- Example: "She's just acting"
[syn: dissemble, pretend, act]

3. put forward a claim and assert right or possession of;
- Example: "pretend the title of King"

4. put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation;
- Example: "I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again"
- Example: "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong"
[syn: guess, venture, pretend, hazard]

5. represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like;
- Example: "She makes like an actress"
[syn: make, pretend, make believe]

6. state insincerely;
- Example: "He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt"
- Example: "She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber"
- Example: "She pretends to be an expert on wine"
[syn: profess, pretend]


ADJECTIVE (1)

1. imagined as in a play;
- Example: "the make-believe world of theater"
- Example: "play money"
- Example: "dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish"
[syn: make-believe, pretend]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pretend \Pre*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. pr['e]tendre, L. praetendere, praetentum, to stretch forward, pretend, simulate, assert; prae before + tendere to stretch. See Tend, v. t. ] 1. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim. [1913 Webster] Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. [R.] [1913 Webster] Lest that too heavenly form, pretended To hellish falsehood, snare them. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 3. To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship. [1913 Webster] This let him know, Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 4. To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. To hold before one; to extend. [Obs.] "His target always over her pretended." --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pretend \Pre*tend"\, v. i. 1. To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; -- usually with to. "Countries that pretend to freedom." --Swift. [1913 Webster] For to what fine he would anon pretend, That know I well. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep. "[He] pretended to drink the waters." --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pretend adj 1: imagined as in a play; "the make-believe world of theater"; "play money"; "dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish" [syn: make-believe, pretend] n 1: the enactment of a pretense; "it was just pretend" [syn: make-believe, pretend] v 1: make believe with the intent to deceive; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache" [syn: feign, sham, pretend, affect, dissemble] 2: behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting" [syn: dissemble, pretend, act] 3: put forward a claim and assert right or possession of; "pretend the title of King" 4: put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation; "I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again"; "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong" [syn: guess, venture, pretend, hazard] 5: represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like; "She makes like an actress" [syn: make, pretend, make believe] 6: state insincerely; "He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt"; "She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber"; "She pretends to be an expert on wine" [syn: profess, pretend]