# faking

/ˈfeɪkɪŋ/ (US) · /fˈeɪkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/faking
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. pretending an emotion

verb · CEFR B2

pretending to feel something that you do not actually feel.

For teachers: simulating a particular emotion, state, or quality to deceive others.

- She was just faking her enthusiasm for the project to please her boss.
- Despite his internal anxiety, he succeeded in faking a calm exterior throughout the entire board meeting.

### 2. creating a forgery

verb · CEFR B2

making a copy of something and pretending it is the real, original version.

For teachers: producing a fraudulent imitation of an object, document, or signature with the intent to deceive.

- The criminal was caught faking official documents to get a bank loan.
- The gallery was accused of faking provenance records to sell the modern reproductions as authentic seventeenth-century masterpieces.

### 3. deceptive movement

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

making a movement to trick an opponent into thinking you will go in a different direction.

For teachers: performing a deceptive movement or feint to mislead an opponent.

- The player was faking a pass to the left before running to the right.
- By faking a shot at the goal, the striker drew the defender out of position and created space for his teammate.

### 4. the act of deception

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the act of pretending or making something false.

For teachers: the action or process of simulating, forging, or feigning.

- His faking of the illness was so convincing that even the doctor was fooled.
- The study examined the faking of personality test results by job applicants seeking to appear more extraverted.

## Examples

- He is faking an illness to stay home from work.
- The witness was accused of faking her surprise when the evidence was presented in court.
- Psychologists often study how effectively humans can detect when someone is faking a smile versus expressing genuine joy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.