Pronunciation: [pɹɪtˈɛndz] (IPA) 
Pretends is a six-letter verb that means to feign or simulate something. The IPA phonetic transcription for pretends is /prɪˈtɛndz/. This word is spelled with the letter "p" followed by "r", "e", "t", "e", "n", "d", and "s". The stress is on the second syllable (pre-TENDS). The letter "e" appears twice in the word, indicating that the sound is pronounced as "eh" both times. The ending "s" adds a plural meaning to the verb.
The term "pretends" is a verb that refers to the act of feigning, simulating, or imitating something in order to deceive, trick, or mislead others. It involves creating a false appearance or display, often with the intention of hiding one's true feelings, intentions, or identity. When someone pretends, they consciously adopt a different behavior, attitude, or emotion in order to manipulate or conceal information.
Pretending is commonly associated with acting or playing a role. It involves pretending to be someone or something that one is not, often for the purpose of entertainment, performance, or role-playing games. This can involve assuming a fictional character, mimicking an accent, or exaggerating certain characteristics for dramatic effect.
However, pretending can also extend beyond theatrical performances. In everyday life, individuals may pretend in various contexts, such as pretending to be happy when feeling sad or pretending to agree with someone's opinion even if they hold a different viewpoint. Pretending can be a conscious choice or a reflexive reaction to social expectations or pressure. It can serve as a defense mechanism, helping individuals maintain relationships, avoid confrontation, or navigate challenging situations.
Overall, the act of pretending involves consciously adopting a false appearance or behavior, often with the intention of deceiving or concealing one's true thoughts, emotions, or identity. It is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various forms of simulation, feigning, or imitating, ultimately serving different purposes depending on the context.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "pretend" has an etymology that can be traced back to the late 14th century. It originated from the Old French word "pretendre", meaning "to lay claim to, to assert". This Old French term was derived from the Latin word "praetendere", which had a similar meaning of "to stretch forth, allege, claim". The Latin word was a combination of "prae" (before, in front of) and "tendere" (to stretch, extend). Over time, the meaning of "pretend" expanded to include feigning or simulating, as it is commonly used today.
