make believe

See also: makebelieve and make-believe

English

Verb

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.

Translations

to pretend

• Maori: whakangaio

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