Definition of: pretend

(pri·tend′) v.t.
1. To assume or display a false appearance of; feign: to pretend friendship for an enemy.
2. To claim or assert falsely: He pretended that there was gold on his property.
3. To feign in play; make believe.
—v.i.
4. To make believe, as in play or for the purpose of deception: She is only pretending when she says that.
5. To put forward a claim: with to. [<OF pretendre <L praetendere spread out before <prae- before + tendere spread out] Synonyms: affect, assume, counterfeit, feign, profess, sham, simulate. See ASSUME, MASK.