pretend

(noun) the enactment of a pretense. Synonyms: make-believe. Example: "It was just pretend."

(verb) make believe with the intent to deceive. Synonyms: feign, sham, affect, dissemble. Examples: "He feigned that he was ill." "He shammed a headache."

(verb) behave unnaturally or affectedly. Synonyms: dissemble, act. Example: "She's just acting."

(verb) put forward a claim and assert right or possession of. Example: "Pretend the title of king."

(verb) put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation. Synonyms: guess, venture, hazard. Examples: "I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again." "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong."

(verb) represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like. Synonyms: make, make believe. Example: "She makes like an actress."

(verb) state insincerely. Synonyms: profess. Examples: "He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt." "She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber." "She pretends to be an expert on wine."

(adj) imagined as in a play. Synonyms: make-believe. Examples: "The make-believe world of theater." "Play money." "Dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish."