make believe

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Explanation of "Make Believe"

Definition: The phrase "make believe" is a verb that means to pretend or imagine something that is not real. It is often used in the context of play or storytelling where people act as if something is true, even when it is not.

Usage Instructions:

• "Make believe" is commonly used when children play games where they act like they are someone or something else (like pretending to be a superhero or a character from a story).
• You can use it in sentences to describe the act of pretending or imagining.

Examples:

1. Children's Play: "The kids love to make believe they are pirates searching for treasure."
2. Storytelling: "She likes to make believe she is a princess living in a castle."

Advanced Usage:

• In a more advanced context, "make believe" can refer to acting in theater or drama, where actors portray characters and create a fictional world.
• Example: "In the play, the actors make believe they are in a different time and place."

Word Variants:

• Make-believe (noun): This can also be used as a noun to refer to the act of pretending.
  • Example: "Their make-believe world was full of magic and adventure."

Different Meanings:

• "Make believe" primarily refers to pretending, but it can also imply a form of escapism, where people use imagination to escape reality.

Synonyms:

• Pretend
• Imagine
• Assume
• Act

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Make-believe world": A term often used to describe a fantasy or imaginary place created in a child's mind or in stories.
• There are no specific phrasal verbs directly related to "make believe," but it can be used in various sentences with other verbs, like "to make believe in" something (to pretend to believe in something).

Summary:

The phrase "make believe" is a fun and imaginative way to express the act of pretending or creating a fictional scenario.

Academic

Verb

1. represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like
   • She makes like an actress

Synonyms

• make
• pretend