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Noun: pretending  pri'ten-ding
  1. The act of giving a false appearance
    "his conformity was only pretending";
    - pretense [N. Amer], pretence [Brit, Cdn], simulation, feigning
Verb: pretend  pri'tend
  1. Make believe with the intent to deceive
    "He pretended that he was ill";
    - feign, sham, affect, dissemble
     
  2. Behave unnaturally or affectedly
    "She's just pretending";
    - dissemble, 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 cannot pretend to say that you are wrong";
    - guess, venture, hazard
     
  5. Represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like
    "She pretends like an actress";
    - make, make believe
     
  6. State insincerely
    "She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber";
    - profess

Derived forms: pretendings

Type of: act, arrogate, belie, claim, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, lay claim, misrepresent, muse, play, represent, speculate

Encyclopedia: Pretending

Pretend