fake

[ feyk ]

/ feɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fake ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), faked, fak·ing.

prepare or make (something specious, deceptive, or fraudulent): to fake a report showing nonexistent profits.

to conceal the defects of or make appear more attractive, interesting, valuable, etc., usually in order to deceive: The story was faked a bit to make it more sensational.

to pretend; simulate: to fake illness.

to accomplish by trial and error or by improvising: I don't know the job, but I can fake it.

to trick or deceive (an opponent) by making a fake (often followed by out): The running back faked out the defender with a deft move and scored.

Jazz.

to improvise: to fake an accompaniment.
to play (music) without reading from a score.

verb (used without object), faked, fak·ing.

to fake something; pretend.

to give a fake to an opponent.

noun

anything made to appear otherwise than it actually is; counterfeit: This diamond necklace is a fake.

a person who fakes; faker: The doctor with the reputed cure for cancer proved to be a fake.

a spurious report or story.

Sports. a simulated play or move intended to deceive an opponent.

adjective

designed to deceive or cheat; not real; counterfeit.

Verb Phrases

fake out, Slang.

to trick; deceive: She faked me out by acting friendly and then stole my job.
to surprise, as by a sudden reversal: They thought we weren't coming back, but we faked them out by showing up during dinner.

Nearby words

faizabad, faja, fajardo, fajita, fajitas, fake, fake book, fake news, fakeer, faker, fakery

Origin of fake

1805–15; orig. vagrants' slang: to do for, rob, kill (someone), shape (something); perhaps variant of obsolete feak, feague to beat, akin to Dutch veeg a slap, vegen to sweep, wipe

SYNONYMS FOR fake

3 feign, affect, dissemble, sham, fabricate.

10 fraud, impostor, quack, charlatan, deceiver.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fake ON THESAURUS.COM

Definition for fake (2 of 2)

fake

[ feyk ]

/ feɪk /

Nautical

verb (used with object), faked, fak·ing.

to lay (a rope) in a coil or series of long loops so as to allow to run freely without fouling or kinking (often followed by down).

noun

any complete turn of a rope that has been faked down.

any of the various ways in which a rope may be faked down.

Also flake.

Origin of fake

1350–1400; Middle English faken to coil (a rope), of obscure origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fake

He cast her as Hope, an ex-addict with an impressive pair of fake chompers—the result of years of drug abuse.
Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood Stardom|Marlow Stern|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fake Twitter handles started appearing for members of its fake cast.
There Are More 'Too Many Cooks' Where That First Fever Dream Came From|Kevin Fallon|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was ignored at the time because the now-famous letter is also famously a fake.
Russell Brand’s Revolution For Morons|Michael Moynihan|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, Martin redeemed himself when correctly guessing a fake expletive-laden clue read by Meyers.
Amy Poehler and George R.R. Martin Play Game of ‘Game of Thrones’|Alex Chancey|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But if I could live in an economy where everyone had the privilege to be rude rather than the obligation to fake it, I would.
Why Your Waiter Hates You|Jedediah Purdy|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"All lies and fake figures," he said, but in a doubtful croak.
Babbitt|Sinclair Lewis
There is a bare possibility that the mutiny was real instead of a fake.
Pirates' Hope|Francis Lynde
He called a few people from here, and found out about the fake riot and police raid Ravick had cooked up.
Four-Day Planet|Henry Beam Piper
There was no need for any fake explosions this time, to give the impression of destruction.
The Legion of Lazarus|Edmond Hamilton
If that fake agreement is still in existence, I'll get it for you.
The Vagrant Duke|George Gibbs

British Dictionary definitions for fake (1 of 2)

fake

/ (feɪk) /

verb

(tr) to cause (something inferior or not genuine) to appear more valuable, desirable, or real by fraud or pretence

to pretend to have (an illness, emotion, etc)to fake a headache

to improvise (music, stage dialogue, etc)

noun

an object, person, or act that is not genuine; sham, counterfeit, or forgery

adjective

not genuine; spurious

Derived Formsfaker, nounfakery, noun

Word Origin for fake

originally (C18) thieves' slang to mug or do someone; probably via Polari from Italian facciare to make or do

British Dictionary definitions for fake (2 of 2)

fake

/ (feɪk) nautical /

verb

(tr usually foll by down) to coil (a rope) on deck

noun

one round of a coil of rope

Word Origin for fake

Middle English faken, perhaps via Lingua Franca from Italian facciare to make or do; see fake 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fake

fake

attested in London criminal slang as adjective (1775), verb (1812), and noun (1851, of persons 1888), but probably older. A likely source is feague "to spruce up by artificial means," from German fegen "polish, sweep," also "to clear out, plunder" in colloquial use. "Much of our early thieves' slang is Ger. or Du., and dates from the Thirty Years' War" [Weekley]. Or it may be from Latin facere "to do." Related: Faked; fakes; faking.

fake

verb (used with object), faked, fak·ing.

verb (used without object), faked, fak·ing.

noun

adjective

Verb Phrases

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Nearby words

Origin of fake

Definition for fake (2 of 2)

fake

verb (used with object), faked, fak·ing.

noun

Origin of fake

Examples from the Web for fake

British Dictionary definitions for fake (1 of 2)

fake

verb

noun

adjective

Word Origin for fake

British Dictionary definitions for fake (2 of 2)

fake

verb

noun

Word Origin for fake

Word Origin and History for fake

fake