<p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>To cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so: to pretend illness; to pretend that nothing is wrong.</li><li>To appear falsely, as to deceive; feign: to pretend to go to sleep.</li><li>To make believe: The children pretended to be cowboys.</li><li>To presume; venture: I can't pretend to say what went wrong.</li><li>To allege or profess, especially insincerely or falsely: He pretended to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>To make believe.</li><li>To lay claim to (usually followed by to): She pretended to the throne.</li><li>To make pretensions (usually followed by to): He pretends to great knowledge.</li><li>Obsolete: to aspire, as a suitor or candidate (followed by to).</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>Informal: make-believe; simulated; counterfeit: pretend diamonds.</li></ul>