feign

verb
UK: /feɪn/
US: /feɪn/

  1. To pretend to feel or be affected by something.

    1. I had to feign sleep when my brother came in.
    2. She had to feign enthusiasm for a gift she didn't like to be polite.

  2. To give a false appearance of; to represent falsely.

    1. He would often feign illness to avoid going to school.
    2. The spy attempted to feign indifference, but his hands betrayed his anxiety.

Synonyms

pretend sham affect dissemble simulate

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "feign" in English means: To pretend to feel or be affected by something., To give a false appearance of; to represent falsely..

The phonetic transcription of "feign" is /feɪn/ in British English and /feɪn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "feign": pretend, sham, affect, dissemble, simulate.

Example usage of "feign": "I had to feign sleep when my brother came in.". More examples on the page.