Definition: 1. The enactment of a pretense. 2. Make believe with the intent to deceive. 3. Behave unnaturally or affectedly. 4. Imagined as in a play. 5. Put forward a claim and assert right or possession of.
Use 'pretend' in a sentence:
1. Not even their diehard supporters can pretend that this was a great game.
2. It would be idle to pretend the system is perfect.
3. Indeed, the etiquette in this situation calls for you to ape his behavior — take out your smartphone and pretend to check all the things going on in your life.
4. We won't pretend we savour the prospect of a month in prison.
5. I don't like him, and it would be dishonest of me to pretend otherwise.
6. You can pretend that you don't like things which you are actually quite pleased about.
7. Let us pretend that it is the end.
8. They didn't have any real money so they had to pretend.
9. We do not pretend that the past six years have been without problems for us.
10. Sometimes a market trader would put a cat in his bag and pretend it was a pig to fool the customer! So if someone lets the cat out of the bag, the secret would be open to us.
11. Within this lecture I cannot pretend to deal adequately with dreams.
12. My disguise is none so good that thou canst pretend thou knowest not thy father through it.
13. She can sunbathe and pretend she's in Cancun.
14. I never tried to pretend that I was anything else.
15. It is idle to pretend that their marriage is a success.
16. I pretended to rub a fleck of grit from one eye.
17. Here's what I can't do: pretend that this is not happening.
18. That day he spied on her while pretending to work on the shrubs.
19. You pretend that this black hole which you worship exists.
20. Please pretend you are a friend of Sue Perkins.
21. Let's pretend (that) we're astronauts.
22. Don't be surprised if I pretend not to recognise you.
23. Flashback 29 years ago, pretend you are still studying at a business school.
24. You can pretend to like things which you are quite happy to do without.
25. I pretend that things are really okay when they're not.
26. The children pretend to be different animals dancing to the music.
27. If these statistics surprise you, that's probably because so many people pretend to be extroverts.
28. She pretended an interest she did not feel.
29. Although some people pretend to be young, their grey hair and loose skin give them away.
30. Let's pretend we're astronauts.
31. I had no option but to pretend ignorance.
32. They pretend to live a traditional lifestyle, wear traditional clothes and live in traditional houses in order to attract tourists.
33. That's a good question, and I don't want to pretend that MBWA is some sort of replacement for other methods of customer research.
34. I pretended not to care but I was screaming inside.
35. Of course I was wrong; it would be hypocritical to pretend otherwise.
36. "Even if it isn't real Magic," Colin said, "we can pretend it is."
37. Then they pretend to laugh.
38. Although they are pretending hard to be young, grey hair and cellulite give them away.
39. She buried her head under the covers, pretending to be asleep.
40. If I break wind at dinner, should I say "Pardon," or pretend nothing has happened?
41. He lay in the darkness, pretending to sleep.
42. She pretended she wasn't excited but the expression on her face was a dead giveaway.
43. You cannot pretend there's no evil in the world.
44. Is it a matter of consequence to you whether they play tag, or hide and seek, or pretend?
45. She made a fanning motion, pretending to cool herself off.
46. I can't pretend to any great musical talent.
47. Sometimes the boy pretended to be asleep.
48. The accident was my fault ─ it would be foolish to pretend otherwise.
49. The accident was my fault— it would be foolish to pretend otherwise.
50. I'm tired of having to pretend all the time.
51. He pretended not to notice.
52. Let's pretend A meets B in the park.
53. After the adverts, the presenter tried to pretend that everything was back to normal.
54. There's no sense in pretending this doesn't happen.
55. She pretends to be interested in opera, but it's only for show.
