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make-believe. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
make-believe, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
make-believe in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Deverbal from make believe.
Noun
make-believe (countable and uncountable, plural make-believes) (sometimes childish)
- (uncountable) The quality or act of pretending; acting as if something is true when in fact one knows it is not.
- (uncountable) The condition of pretending or imagining that things are better than they really are.
- (countable) Something imaginary.
1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Marjorie Lindon, to even think such nonsense. Are you all nerves and morbid imaginings,—you who have prided yourself on being so strong-minded! A pretty sort you are to do battle for anyone.—Why, they’re only make-believes!’