make believe

1 of 3

phrase

Synonyms of make believenext
: pretend, feign
made believe that everything was all right

make-believe

2 of 3

noun

make-be·​lieve ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv How to pronounce make-believe (audio)
variants or less commonly make-belief
ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēf How to pronounce make-believe (audio)
: 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

3 of 3

adjective

: imaginary, pretended

Synonyms of make believe

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Adjective

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Examples of make believe in a Sentence

Adjective zoomed around the house in a make-believe car
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Phrase
So in this case, let’s make believe in some timeline that didn’t happen and my wife got a manicure that day. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 29 July 2026
Noun
The brand’s modular Kit seat unfolds from a pint-size loveseat into a cushy surface for stretching out or building the next make-believe fort. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 31 Aug. 2026 Watson, who continues to deny any wrongdoing, has not earned a dollar of his ironclad contract and hasn’t at all looked like an NFL quarterback, especially during that Saturday make-believe matchup against the Buffalo Bills. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Mention of the farm brought to mind a make-believe oasis of sunshine, warm fields of thick, green grass, fat red apples hanging from a tree, oats mixed with brown sugar in the trough, and a cool, clear stream winding through the center of it all. — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 Now, there is a brand-new way to immerse yourself in the magical, make-believe worlds that delight us on screen. — Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for make believe

Word History

First Known Use

Phrase

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1806, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of make believe was in the 14th century

Rhymes for make believe

See All Rhymes for make believe

Browse Nearby Words

makebate
make believe
make-believe
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Make believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20believe. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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