make-believe
ˈmeɪk bɪˌliv
Definition Synonyms

Definition of make-believe - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
pretendimaginary or pretended
  • The children played in their make-believe world all afternoon..
imaginary pretend
2.
theatricalimitating reality, used in plays or films
  • The make-believe props looked surprisingly real on stage.
fictitious imaginary pretend

Noun

1.
imaginationthe act of pretending something is real
  • Children often engage in make-believe during play.
fantasy imagination pretense
2.
playchildren's play involving imagination
  • Make-believe games are popular among young kids.
fantasy pretend
3.
imaginary thingsomething that exists only in imagination
  • The dragon was just a make-believe creature.
daydream fantasy illusion
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Expressions with make-believe

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it's just make-believeexp.
not real, imagined or pretend
Don't worry, it's just make-believe.
land of make-believen.
imaginary place where things are not real
Children love to visit the land of make-believe.
world of make-believen.
imaginary place where fantasies happen
Children love to play in a world of make-believe.
life of make-believen.
existence focused on imagination and fantasy
She lived a life of make-believe, always dreaming of adventures.
make-believe worldn.
imaginary place created for entertainment or storytelling
Children love to play in a make-believe world.
play at make-believev.
pretend something is real for fun or imagination
The kids love to play at make-believe in the backyard.

Origin of make-believe

English, make (create) + believe (accept as true)

Terms related to make-believe

💡 Terms in the same lexical field: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, hypernyms…
beliefbelievablebelieveartificialconcoctedfabricatedfantasyfictitiousillusionsimulatedunrealacting

Terms with make-believe included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
foolv.
deception
trick or deceive someone to make them believe something false
have someone fooledv.
behavior
make a person believe something untrue by successfully misleading them
convincingadj.
persuasive
able to make someone believe or agree
pretendadj.
imagination
fanciful or make-believe
deceptiveadj.
misleading
likely to make someone believe something that is not true
lead into errorv.
mistake
cause someone to make a mistake or believe something wrong
persuasiveadj.
convincing others
able to make people believe or do something
blow smokev.
deceive
try to make someone believe something untrue

Examples of make-believe in a sentence

  • They lived in a make-believe castle.
  • The make-believe castle enchanted the children.
  • In the make-believe world, animals could talk.
  • The world of make-believe can be enchanting for adults too.
  • In make-believe, anything is possible, even flying.
  • The children spent the afternoon in a world of make-believe.

View all translations of make-believe

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:imaginaire, imagination, ...
  2. German:imaginär, Fantasie, ...
  3. Italian:immaginario, finzione, ...
  4. Spanish:imaginario, imaginación, ...
  5. Portuguese:imaginário, fantasia, ...
  6. Chinese:虚构的, 幻想, ...
  7. Japanese:空想の, ごっこ遊び, ...
  8. Arabic:خَيالِيّ, لَعِبُ التَّظاهُر, ...
  9. Hebrew:דְּמִיוֹנִי, מִשְׂחַק דִּמְיוֹן, ...
  10. Russian:воображаемый, воображаемая игра, ...
  11. Ukrainian:уявний, вдавання, ...
  12. Hindi:काल्पनिक, काल्पनिक खेल, ...
make believe
ˈmeɪk bɪˈliːv
made believe

Definition of make believe - Reverso English Dictionary

Verbal expression

pretend playpretend something is real, often for fun or acting
  • The children make believe they are pirates.
  • They make believe the sofa is a spaceship.
  • At recess, students make believe they're superheroes.
imagine pretend
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Terms related to make believe

💡 Terms in the same lexical field: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, hypernyms…
make-believeactdaydreamdramatizefantasizefeignimprovisemimicsimulate

View all translations of make believe

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:faire semblant, ...
  2. German:so tun als ob, ...
  3. Italian:fare finta, ...
  4. Spanish:hacer de cuenta, ...
  5. Portuguese:fazer de conta, ...
  6. Chinese:假装, ...
  7. Japanese:ふりをする, ...
  8. Arabic:تَظاهَرَ, ...
  9. Hebrew:לְהַעֲמִיד פָּנִים, ...
  10. Russian:притворяться, ...
  11. Ukrainian:гратися в, ...
  12. Hindi:नाटक करना, ...

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