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
In it, Johna Ramirez, the mother of Squad member Jentzen Ramirez, said that Smith and Hill pulled pranks for videos that went too far, including hiring actors to pretend to arrest the kids.
—
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
This can be further enhanced by having the AI pretend to be a multitude of expert personas, debating and challenging each other.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
My thought was to pretend to be serious about finding a job, and most companies had entrance exams back in those days.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
The new series begins streaming today and stars Henry and Wagner Moura (Narcos) as Ray and Manny, longtime friends in Philadelphia who pretend to be Drug Enforcement Administration officers in order to seize drugs and cash from small-time dealers.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretend to (something)
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Emily Blackwood, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
This can be further enhanced by having the AI pretend to be a multitude of expert personas, debating and challenging each other.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
My thought was to pretend to be serious about finding a job, and most companies had entrance exams back in those days.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
The new series begins streaming today and stars Henry and Wagner Moura (Narcos) as Ray and Manny, longtime friends in Philadelphia who pretend to be Drug Enforcement Administration officers in order to seize drugs and cash from small-time dealers.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 14 Mar. 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 21 Apr. 2025.
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