pretending
n. uncountable B1 Intermediate US //pɹiˈtɛndɪŋ// UK //pɹɪtˈɛndɪŋ// pre·tend·ing
n. the act of acting as if something is true when it is not. You often see this when children play or when someone hides their real feelings.
n. the action of behaving as if something is the case when it is not, typically for the purpose of play or deception.
The children are tired of all the pretending.
After years of pretending, she finally admitted that she never actually liked the taste of coffee.
The diplomat's constant pretending eventually eroded the trust of his colleagues, who grew weary of his inability to speak with genuine conviction.
Usage
Often functions as a gerund; when used as a pure noun, it typically describes a sustained state or habit of behavior.