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Synonyms
pre·tend (prĭ-tĕnd́)

[Middle English pretenden, from Old French pretendre, from Latin praetendere, prae-, pre-, + tendere, to extend.]

verb: -tend·ed, -tend·ing, -tends. 

transitive verb 

  1. To give a false appearance of; feign: “You had to pretend conformity while privately pursuing high and dangerous nonconformism” (Anthony Burgess)
  2. To claim or allege insincerely or falsely; profess: doesn't pretend to be an expert.
  3. To represent fictitiously in play; make believe: pretended they were on a cruise.
  4. To take upon oneself; venture: I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong.

intransitive verb 

  1. To feign an action or character, as in play.
  2. To put forward a claim.
  3. To make pretensions: pretends to gourmet tastes.

adjective 

Informal
Imitation; make-believe: pretend money; pretend pearls.