Definition of pretend
- v. t. - To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.
- v. t. - To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise
for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.
- v. t. - 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.
- v. t. - To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt.
- v. t. - To hold before one; to extend.
- v. i. - 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.
- v. i. - 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.