Definitions for pretendprɪˈtɛnd

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

pre•tend^*prɪˈtɛnd(v.)

to cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so; claim:
pretending that nothing is wrong.
to put forward a false appearance of, as to deceive; feign:
to pretend illness.
to make believe:
The children pretended they were cowboys.
to presume; venture:
I can't pretend to say what went wrong.
to allege or profess, esp. insincerely or falsely:
He pretended to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.
(v.i.)to make believe.
to lay claim to (usu. fol. by to):
to pretend to the throne.
to make pretensions (usu. fol. by to):
to pretend to great knowledge.
Obs. to aspire, as a suitor or candidate (fol. by to).
(adj.)make-believe; imaginary:
pretend diamonds.
Category: Common Vocabulary, Informal

^* Syn: pretend , affect , assume , feign imply an attempt to create a false appearance. To pretend is to create an imaginary characteristic or to play a part: to pretend sorrow. To affect is to make a consciously artificial show of having qualities that one thinks would look well and impress others: to affect shyness. To assume is to take on or put on a specific outward appearance, often with intent to deceive: to assume an air of indifference. To feign implies using ingenuity in pretense, and some degree of imitation of appearance or characteristics: to feign surprise.

Origin of pretend:

1325–75; < L praetendere to stretch forth, put forward, pretend. See pre -, tend1

Princeton's WordNet

make-believe, pretend(adj)
the enactment of a pretense
"it was just pretend"
make-believe, pretend(verb)
imagined as in a play
"the make-believe world of theater"; "play money"; "dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish"
feign, sham, pretend, affect, dissemble(verb)
make believe with the intent to deceive
"He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache"
dissemble, pretend, act(verb)
behave unnaturally or affectedly
"She's just acting"
pretend(verb)
put forward a claim and assert right or possession of
"pretend the title of King"
guess, venture, pretend, hazard(verb)
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"
make, pretend, make believe(verb)
represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like
"She makes like an actress"
profess, pretend(verb)
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"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

pretend(verb)ɪˈtɛnd
to say or do sth false in order to trick people
She pretended that she hadn't seen the other girls.; websites pretending to advise you of problems with your bank account; to pretend innocence
pretendɪˈtɛnd
(of children) to play by imagining sth
They pretended they were in outer space.; We don't need costumes, we can just pretend.
pretend(adjective)ɪˈtɛnd
imagined for fun
kids driving pretend cars

Wiktionary

pretend(Verb)
To claim, allege, especially when falsely or as a form of deliberate deception.
pretend(Verb)
To feign, affect (a state, quality etc.).
pretend(Verb)
To lay claim to (an ability, status, advantage etc.).
pretend(Verb)
To make oneself appear to do or be doing something; to engage in make-believe.

Origin: From pretendre, pretendre (French prétendre), from praetendere, present active infinitive of praetendo, from prae- + tendo; see tend.

Webster Dictionary

Pretend(verb)
to lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim
Pretend(verb)
to hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden
Pretend(verb)
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
Pretend(verb)
to intend; to design; to plot; to attempt
Pretend(verb)
to hold before one; to extend
Pretend(verb)
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
Pretend(verb)
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