feigning

Everyday

Pretending to have a feeling, illness or state that is not real: «feigning sleep», «feigning surprise». tree →

In the lessons

In stories, characters feign illness to stay home, or feign sleep to trick someone. In nature, some animals feign death (playing dead) to escape predators, like the opossum. A rather formal word; everyday word is «pretending».

Examples

• He was feigning illness to miss the test. tree →
• The opossum survives by feigning death. tree →
• She lay still, feigning sleep. tree →
• He was feigning surprise, but he knew about the party. tree →
• Stop feigning — I know you're awake! tree →
• The bird was feigning a broken wing to lead the fox away. tree →

Note

Feign: silent g, sounds like «fain» (rhymes with rain). Formal-ish; prefer «pretending». Do not confuse with «faint» (to pass out).