1
- with clause or infinitive speak and act so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not伪称, 佯称; 假装, 佯装：
I closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep
我闭上眼睛假装睡着了
she turned the pages and pretended to read.
她翻着书假装在看。
1.1
- engage in a game or fantasy which involves supposing something that is not the case to be so装扮：
children pretending to be grown-ups.
玩装扮大人的孩子。
1.2
- with obj. give the appearance of feeling or possessing (an emotion or quality); simulate装作; 模仿：
she pretended a greater surprise than she felt.
她装出比她感受到的还要吃惊的样子。
2
- no obj.
pretend to
lay claim to (a quality or title)自称, 自封, 自夸： he cannot pretend to sophistication.
他不能自夸老练。
attrib.
- informal not really what it is represented as being; used in a game or deception〈非正式〉伪装的, 假装的, 仿制的（用于游戏、欺骗）装扮的：
the children are pouring out pretend tea for the dolls.
孩子们假装为洋娃娃倒茶。
词源
late Middle English: from Latin praetendere 'stretch forth， claim'， from prae 'before'+tendere 'stretch'. The adjective dates from the early 20th cent.