pretends

noun

(childish, informal) The act of engaging in pretend play.

verb

(intransitive or with 'that' clause or 'to' infinitive) To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.

To engage in make-believe.

(transitive) To feign, affect (a state, quality, etc.).

(intransitive with 'to', formal, originally transitive) To lay claim (to an ability, status, advantage, etc.).

(transitive, obsolete) To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden.

(transitive, obsolete) To intend; to design, to plot; to attempt.

(transitive, obsolete) To hold before one; to extend.

adjective

Not really what it is represented as being; imaginary, feigned.

Roots

praepre- · Latin · before, in front tendo-tend · Latin · stretch

Synonyms & related words for pretends

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Words related to pretends

Explore words related to pretends — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include feign, pretending, pretended, dissemble, profess, sham, pretense, supposed. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does pretends come from?

The word pretends breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: pre-, from Latin prae (“before, in front”); and -tend, from Latin tendo (“stretch”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.