pretend
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I wouldn’t say anyone’s asking for this, but we want to do some little wish fulfillment, or just live in a world where you can pretend that this is happening.
From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2026
Now she has quit the party, saying her youth meant she "couldn't just stand there and clap the government and pretend like nothing is happening".
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
In 1976, having come through the tumultuous period of the Vietnam War, Watergate and massive social change, the country seemed to be in the mood to pretend they had all never happened.
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026
But you can’t pretend he’s not Paul McCartney.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
‘And he is not my uncle. We can pretend to the outside world, but can we not at least speak the truth inside our home?’
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
"He is not happy, he pretends he is happy," said Tamim.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
“He’s not crazy, he only pretends to be” isn’t a viable defense in the real world.
From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2026
Rhonda had fallen victim to what is known as impersonation scam, where a fraudster pretends to be from a bank or other financial institution.
From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026
He is not the muscular president he pretends to be on television.
From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2026
Another bolt flies toward Cardan, who pretends to be too stunned to move, just the way we practiced.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Hine often donned disguises or pretended to be inspecting a factory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Many pretended it wasn't happening at all, but that's harder to do as the front line creeps closer to the city.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
It’s been widely reported that in the ’80s and ’90s, Trump sometimes pretended to be his own publicist, John Barron, when talking to reporters.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
“He looks like Eliot Ness,” the president declared of his veep in a televised Cabinet meeting in May while high-level administration officials pretended to laugh.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026
On the outside she pretended to be calm, even though her insides jangled.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
He told the BBC the joke was never about pretending nothing had happened.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
They were places where people remembered each other: who was sick, who had disappeared, who had a new doctor, who was pretending to be fine.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
"There is a possibility that bad actors may claim usernames... and message other users while pretending to be someone they are not," the English-language daily quoted a senior government official as saying.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
A coalition mindset doesn’t mean denying history or pretending that America has been a level playing field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
It’s no use pretending not to be rattled.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Vocabulary lists containing pretend
"Eleven"
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"Eleven," Vocabulary from the short story
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"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, Chapters 1–3
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