pretending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretending" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the act of behaving as if something is true when it is not, often for the purpose of deception or imagination. Example: "She was pretending to be someone else at the party, trying to escape her reality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or something … Like the 'put your cock in a sock for ball cancer' campaign before it and the myriad other attention-seeking memes … the Coke/boob challenge allows people to show off their best assets while pretending that they give a shit.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But we need to learn more than tact if tact involves that Žižekian lie of pretending to have averted our eyes.

The Guardian

Glenn Greenwald, for example, attacked PEN's decision, citing "the fraud of pretending that celebrations of Charlie Hebdo cartoonists are independent of the fact that the particular group they most prominently mock are Muslims, a marginalised, targeted, and largely powerless group in France".

The Guardian - Opinion

There was a nod to civilian life in Pakistan with a series of floats, including one bearing a pair of roaring electronic dinosaurs and others for each of country's different regions – the mountainous north was represented by men dressed as mountaineers pretending to scale a model of K2.

The Guardian

I couldn't, so I wrote about it in this newspaper, initially pretending it wasn't me, because of the shame.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"As a nation, we should stop pretending that voluntary agreements on alcohol and food will improve the situation – they don't, only legislation will do," said Dacre.

The Guardian

He celebrated by pretending to play the trumpet – a gesture that he would later explain was intended for a music-loving friend in the crowd.

The Guardian - Sport

The following June a Twitter account pretending to be former Mirror editor Piers Morgan tweeted the "breaking news" that Mandela had died in his sleep.

The Guardian

The robber followed Evans into the entrance hall of the block of flats after pretending that he was going to help him with his wheelie bag as he returned from a shopping trip, before lunging for a wallet which contained just £5.

The Guardian

Lindsey posed in front of it, pretending she was shouting and swearing – flipping the bird, and with her hand to her open mouth.

The Guardian - Tech

Oh, and could you show me how to open an email?"), but to be honest I'm struggling to think of any industry where pretending to be stupider than you are will help you to progress.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretending" to describe situations where someone is intentionally creating a false impression or behaving as if something is true when it's not. For example, "She was pretending to be busy to avoid talking to him."

Common error

Avoid using "pretending" in highly formal or professional writing where a more precise or nuanced term like "simulating" or "feigning" might be more appropriate. "Pretending" can sometimes sound too informal.

Linguistic Context

"Pretending" primarily functions as a present participle or gerund of the verb "pretend". It describes an ongoing action of behaving as if something is true when it is not. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing intentional deception, imaginative play, and avoiding unwanted interactions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "pretending" is a versatile term, primarily functioning as a present participle or gerund, denoting the act of behaving as if something is true when it is not. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While "pretending" is generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "feigning" or "simulating" might be preferable in professional or academic settings. The examples curated by Ludwig showcase a wide range of applications, from innocent make-believe to deliberate deception, underscoring its utility in describing scenarios where appearances deviate from reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feigning

Implies a deliberate attempt to create a false impression, often to deceive.

simulating

Suggests creating a realistic imitation of something.

acting as if

A more literal way of describing the act of behaving as if something is true, without necessarily implying deception.

making believe

Often used in the context of children's games or imaginative play.

posing as

Implies an attempt to deceive by presenting oneself as someone else.

masquerading as

Similar to "posing as", but often suggests a more elaborate or theatrical deception.

affecting

Suggests adopting a behavior or mannerism that is not genuine.

shamming

Informal term for "pretending" or faking.

counterfeiting

Implies creating a fake copy of something with the intention to deceive.

putting on an act

Informal way to say someone is "pretending" in a theatrical or exaggerated manner.

FAQs

How can I use "pretending" in a sentence?

You can use "pretending" to describe someone acting as if something is true when it is not. For example, "He was "pretending" to be asleep so she would leave the room."

What's a more formal alternative to "pretending"?

In more formal contexts, consider using "feigning" or "simulating", which convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

When is it appropriate to use "making believe" instead of "pretending"?

"Making believe" is often used in the context of children's play or imaginative scenarios. While interchangeable in some cases, "pretending" is generally more versatile across different contexts. You can also use "acting as if".

What is the difference between "pretending" and "posing as"?

"Pretending" generally refers to acting as if something is true, while "posing as" implies specifically impersonating someone else, often with the intent to deceive. For instance, "He was "pretending" to be sick", versus "He was "posing as" a doctor".