pretend to (something)
idiom
formal
: to claim that one has (something, such as a quality or ability)
She pretends to a deep religious devotion, but I don't believe her.
—usually used in negative statementsI don't pretend to any expertise in these matters.
Examples of pretend to (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
You are not required to pretend to respect someone who disrespects you.
—
William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
Each person switches up being the person who needs to recharge, making sure to pretend to make fun plans for later before going to recharge and take space.
—Christian Dashiell, Parents, 25 Feb. 2025
Tristan’s cunning plan for telling Sykes about his beloved dead pigeon is to completely avoid him and pretend to be Siegfried on the phone.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025
Laurel continues to mock both Emily and Ryan, and then pulls out a book to pretend to read to ignore everyone.
—EW.com, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend to (something)
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William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
Each person switches up being the person who needs to recharge, making sure to pretend to make fun plans for later before going to recharge and take space.
—Christian Dashiell, Parents, 25 Feb. 2025
Tristan’s cunning plan for telling Sykes about his beloved dead pigeon is to completely avoid him and pretend to be Siegfried on the phone.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025
Laurel continues to mock both Emily and Ryan, and then pulls out a book to pretend to read to ignore everyone.
—EW.com, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend to (something)
Cite this Entry
“Pretend to (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretend%20to%20%28something%29. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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