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

To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship.

To hold before one; to extend.

To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep.

The art of playing at being something that you are not, used in creative drama.

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

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"

imagined as in a play; "the make-believe world of theater"; "play money"; "dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish"