make-believe

1 of 2

noun

make-be·​lieve ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv 

variants or less commonly make-belief

ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēf 

: a pretending that what is not real is real

a fiction writer's childish willingness to immerse himself in make-believe

—John Updike

make-believe

2 of 2

adjective

: imaginary, pretended

Synonyms

Adjective

• chimerical
• chimeric
• fabulous
• fanciful
• fantasied
• fantastic
• fantastical
• fictional
• fictitious
• ideal
• imaginal
• imaginary
• imagined
• invented
• made-up
• mythical
• mythic
• notional
• phantasmal
• phantasmic
• phantom
• pretend
• unreal
• visionary

Examples of make-believe in a Sentence

Adjective

zoomed around the house in a make-believe car

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But the almost bland textures of this section feel relevant to the whole project, as Erice sets up a stark contrast between the magic world of cinematic make-believe and the humdrum nature of base reality. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024

This is important because the fantasy genre frequently explores real-world oppression through make-believe people. —Caitlin Penzeymoog, Vox, 7 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Yet in the past, intimate scenes in theater, film and television were rarely treated with the same mindfulness as a make-believe duel. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023

The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe. —Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1806, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

make-believe

1 of 2 noun

make-be·​lieve

ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv

: a pretending to be another person or character (as in the play of children)

make-believe

2 of 2 adjective

: imaginary

was only a make-believe lion