Overview of noun pretending

The noun pretending has 1 sense

• pretense, pretence, pretending, simulation, feigning -- (the act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was only pretending")

Overview of verb pretend

The verb pretend has 6 senses

• feign, sham, pretend, affect, dissemble -- (make believe with the intent to deceive; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache")


• dissemble, pretend, act -- (behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting")


• pretend -- (put forward a claim and assert right or possession of; "pretend the title of King")


• guess, venture, pretend, hazard -- (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 -- (represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like; "She makes like an actress")


• profess, pretend -- (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")