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Pretended - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Pretended means to act as if something is true or real when it is not, often to deceive or play a role. For example, he pretended to be sick to avoid work.

pretended

/prɪˈtɛndɪd/ /prɪˈtɛndɪd/

Definition:

Feigned or false behavior; not genuine or sincere.

Synonyms:

feigned, fake, sham, simulated

Part of Speech:

adjective, verb (past tense)

Antonyms:

genuine, sincere

Common Collocations:

pretended innocence, pretended interest, pretended illness

Derivatives:

pretender, pretendingly

Usage Tips:

Use "pretended" to describe actions or emotions that are not real but acted out deliberately.

Common Phrases:

pretend play, pretend world, pretend friend

Etymology:

From Latin "praetendere," meaning "to stretch forth, claim."

Examples:

  • 1. She pretended not to hear the question.
  • 2. He pretended to be asleep when his mom entered the room.
  • 3. The child pretended to be a superhero for the day.
  • 4. They pretended everything was fine despite the argument.

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