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:
“We try to pretend that everything is OK, but it is definitely not OK. And I don’t know how much longer we can go on living like this,” she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Of course, Cumming is still happy to put on a glittery outfit, amp up his Scottish accent and pretend to be the lord of the castle on “The Traitors.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
And this "enabled the club to pretend that such funds represented operating income".
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
Herzog doesn’t have the answer to that question, and he doesn’t pretend to.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
She stroked my hair and, for a tiny moment, I wondered if I could allow her to comfort me, let myself pretend she hadn’t said those words.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Fearing that the surprise visitor might be a “dangle”—someone who pretends to switch sides to gain a foothold in the enemy camp—his hosts were wary at first.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
"He is not happy, he pretends he is happy," said Tamim.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
Following Mozart’s successful debut at court, Salieri cozies up to him and pretends to aid his cause.
From Salon ● May 16, 2026
The bot’s final product is exactly that: an essay that pretends to divulge, to confess, to promise, and to portray.
From Slate ● Mar. 20, 2026
Floating inside her ring, Sonia pretends to listen.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
Holmes is the former billionaire CEO of Theranos who pretended she’d built a revolutionary blood testing machine to squeeze investors for a few dollars more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
The mood was perhaps best summed up at the face-off, when Joshua smiled and pretended to tickle Fury's stomach.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
He then pretended to board the old Air Force One, only to secretly switch planes by hiding in a refueling truck, due to security threats.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
Instead, Owens pretended there are numerous holes in the case.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
I slid to the back of the room and pretended I belonged.
From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen
Scammers pretending to be legitimate workmen are charging homeowners thousands of pounds for roofing work that is not completed, done badly or not necessary, according to Citizens Advice.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
It’s more money for more stuff, when you should be at least pretending to care about the future.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
In one, she holds up a finger covered in red marker to look like blood, pretending to be a patient who asks how much stitches will cost, and is later shocked by the bill.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
You know it, they know it, there’s no point pretending otherwise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Not just in the morning when they were late or at recess and lunch, but now, when everyone was learning or being taught or sitting there pretending one or the other?
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
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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