make believe

English

Verb

to make believe

1. (idiomatic) To pretend or imagine.

   Let's build a fort out of chairs and blankets and make believe we are pirates.

   • 1927, Oscar Hammerstein II, Show Boat

     Only make believe I love you, / Only make believe that you love me. / Others find peace of mind in pretending, / Couldn’t you? / Couldn’t I? / Couldn’t we? / Make believe our lips are blending / In a phantom kiss, or two, or three. / Might as well make believe I love you, / For to tell the truth I do.

Noun

make believe (usually uncountable; plural make believes)

1. The act of pretending that what is imaginary is real.

Adjective

make believe (comparative more make believe, superlative most make believe)

1. imaginary; conjured in someone's imagination, especially when imagined by a child