Pretend Main Entry: 1pre·tend Pronunciation: \pri-ˈtend\ Function: verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French pretendre, from Latin praetendere to allege as an excuse, literally, to stretch out, from prae- pre- + tendere to stretch — more at thin 1 : to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing 2 a : to make believe : feign b : to claim, represent, or assert falsely