pretend
gb/pɹitˈɛnd/ us/pɹitˈɛnd/
A1
English
~ 2900
úgy tesz, mintha, azt játssza, hogy, jogot formál valamire, magának tulajdonít valamit
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to pretend [that] [something]
She pretended to be asleep when her parents came in.
Úgy tett, mintha aludna, amikor a szülei bejöttek.
He pretended that he knew the answer.
Úgy tett, mintha tudná a választ.
They pretended not to hear the question.
I pretended I was a superhero when I was a kid.
Don't pretend you don't know what's going on.
Learner examples
I pretended to be a cat.
Úgy tettem, mintha macska lennék.
He pretended he was sick.
Úgy tett, mintha beteg lenne.
She pretended to read a book.
We pretended we were on a boat.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pretend' with 'intend'. 'Pretend' means to act as if something is true, while 'intend' means to plan to do something.
Meaning
Act as if something is true
Collocations
pretend to be
|pretend that
|pretend not to
|just pretend
|pretend for fun
Synonyms
fake (Often stronger and can imply deliberate dishonesty, not just play-acting.)
|
feign (More formal; often used for pretending feelings or conditions.)
Antonyms
admit (To openly say the truth instead of acting like something else is true.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To act like something is real when it is not.
To behave in a way that makes others believe something that is not true.
VERB
A1
2
Usage pattern:
to pretend to be [someone/something]
The children pretended to be pirates on a ship.
A gyerekek azt játszották, hogy kalózok egy hajón vannak.
Let’s pretend we’re exploring space.
Játsszuk azt, hogy az űrt fedezzük fel!
She pretended to be a famous singer during the party.
Learner examples
We pretended to be animals.
Azt játszottuk, hogy állatok vagyunk.
He pretended to be a king.
Azt játszotta, hogy ő a király.
She pretended to fly like a bird.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'pretend' in this sense in serious contexts where it sounds childish or playful unintentionally.
Meaning
Play imaginary games
Collocations
pretend play
|pretend game
|pretend to be a princess
|pretend adventure
Synonyms
make-believe (Often used for children's imaginative play.)
Antonyms
be serious (To act in a way that is real and not playful or imagined.)
Themes
daily life
|children
|games
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
Definition
To play a game where you imagine you are someone or something else.
To play by imagining and acting as if you are someone or something else, often for fun.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to pretend to [something]
He pretends to great knowledge of art, but he knows very little.
Nagy művészeti szakértelmet tulajdonít magának, pedig valójában nagyon keveset ért hozzá.
Several groups pretended to the throne during the crisis.
A válság idején több csoport is jogot formált a trónra.
She pretends to authority she does not have.
Learner examples
He pretends to know everything about history.
Azt állítja magáról, hogy mindent tud a történelemről.
They pretend to have power they do not have.
Olyan hatalmat tulajdonítanak maguknak, amellyel valójában nem rendelkeznek.
Meaning
Claim without proof or right
Collocations
pretend to authority
|pretend to knowledge
Synonyms
profess (Formal; can imply claiming something as true or genuine.)
Antonyms
disclaim (To deny having any right or connection.)
Themes
law
|argument
|communication
Definition
To say you have something, like a right, when you do not really have it.
To claim or assert something, especially a right or title, without having it or without proof.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pretend
IPA
GB/pɹitˈɛnd/
US/pɹitˈɛnd/
Syllables & stress
pre - tend (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tend)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: pretend
- 3rd Person Singular: pretends
- Present Participle: pretending
- Past: pretended
Word family
Forms
pretends
verb
pretending
verb
pretended
verb
Core family
pretense
noun
Related words
pretender
noun
pretentious
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unpretentious
adjective
Advanced or less common
pretension
noun
pretentiously
adverb
Expressions
let's pretend
1/lˈɛts pɹitˈɛnd/
fixed phrase
Invite someone to imagine together
Used when you ask someone to imagine something with you for fun or an example.
Examples
- Let's pretend we're on a treasure hunt.
- Let's pretend we live on the moon.
only pretending
1/ˈoʊnli pɹitˈɛndɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Not serious, just acting
When someone is acting but not really meaning it.
Examples
- Don't worry, she was only pretending to be angry.
- He said he was hurt, but he was only pretending.
pretend play
1/pɹitˈɛnd plˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Imaginative play by acting roles
A game where children act like they are other people or things.
Examples
- Pretend play helps children develop social skills.
- The kids were engaged in pretend play as doctors and patients.