What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretend
Example
Let's pretend we're pirates and search for treasure! [pretend: verb]
Example
She pretended to be interested in his stories to avoid hurting his feelings. [pretended: past tense]
Example
He's pretending to be sick to get out of going to work. [pretending: present participle]
fake
Example
The watch he bought turned out to be a fake. [fake: adjective]
Example
She faked a smile to hide her disappointment. [faked: past tense]
Example
He's always been good at faking confidence even when he's nervous. [faking: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fake is more commonly used than pretend in everyday language. Fake is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pretend is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as play or storytelling.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pretend and fake?
While pretend is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, fake is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
