make believes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make believes" is not correct in standard English; the correct form is "makes believe." You can use "makes believe" when referring to the act of pretending or imagining something that is not real, often in the context of children playing.
Example: "The children make believe they are astronauts exploring outer space."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"They are both powerful artists and music is what they are passionate about so using music to communicate with their fans is the most passionate statement they can make," believes celebrity relationship expert, Cooper Lawrence, author of the new novel, The Yoga Club. .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Movie violence is make believe.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Get dressed to make believe".

The New York Times - Books

We can make believe.

The New York Times

I make believe on a professional basis.

The New York Times - Books

It wasn't make believe.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Make believe the people rule.

The New Yorker

Officials make believe that just banks are paying it".

The New York Times

You make believe as a matter of course.

The New York Times - Books

Critics called that approach "mark to make believe".

The New York Times

This is pure make believe speculation.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make-believe" (hyphenated) as a noun or adjective to describe something that is not real. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase "make believes" is not correct in standard English; the correct form is "makes believe."

Common error

Avoid using "make believes" as a plural noun. The correct form is "make-believe" (singular) or using the verb form "make believe" to describe the act of pretending.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make believes" functions primarily as a noun phrase, though it is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard, suggesting the correct form is "makes believe" when used as a verb. However, the more accepted noun form is the hyphenated "make-believe".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make believes" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The proper form is "make-believe" when used as a noun or adjective to describe something not real. Ludwig AI confirms this by suggesting the correct form is "makes believe" if using it as a verb, although it's less common. Its usage is primarily in informal contexts like news, media, and wiki articles related to pretense or imagination. While there are instances of its use, it is best to opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "pretend play", "imaginary world", or simply "make-believe" to maintain clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make-believe world

Adds the term 'world' to the original phrase, framing the whole concept.

imaginary scenarios

Stresses the creation of unreal or hypothetical situations.

pretend play

Focuses on the act of children engaging in imaginative scenarios.

pretending

A simpler verb form indicating the act of make-believe.

fantasy world

Emphasizes the creation of an elaborate and imaginative setting.

fanciful imaginings

Emphasizes the imaginative and creative aspect.

role-playing

Highlights the adoption of different characters and their interactions.

daydreaming

Refers to a state of being lost in one's thoughts and imagination.

whimsical notions

Implies fanciful and playful ideas.

flights of fancy

Suggests unrestrained and imaginative thoughts.

FAQs

Is "make believes" grammatically correct?

No, "make believes" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct term is "make-believe" when used as a noun or adjective. The phrase "makes believe" can be used as a verb, though it is less common.

What does "make-believe" mean?

"Make-believe" refers to pretending or imagining something that is not real. It can describe a game, a story, or a general state of imagination.

How can I use "make-believe" in a sentence?

You can use "make-believe" as an adjective (e.g., "a make-believe world") or as a noun (e.g., "children engaging in make-believe").

Are there alternatives to "make-believe"?

Yes, you can use words like "pretend", "imaginary", or "fantasy". For example, instead of "a make-believe friend", you could say "an "imaginary friend"".