Definitions for pretending

Overview of noun pretending

The noun pretending has 1 senses? (no senses from tagged texts)

1. 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? (first 2 from tagged texts)

1. (12) feign, sham, pretend, affect, dissemble

(make believe with the intent to deceive; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache")

2. (10) dissemble, pretend, act

(behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting")

3. pretend

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

4. 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")

5. make, pretend, make believe

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

6. 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")