I want to make believe vs I make believe

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I want to make believe' implies a desire or intention to pretend or imagine something, while 'I make believe' indicates the act of pretending or imagining something without explicitly stating a desire. They are not directly comparable as they convey slightly different meanings.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1422 views

This phrase is correct and conveys the idea of having a desire or intention to pretend or imagine something.

"I want to make believe"

This phrase is used when expressing a wish or intention to engage in pretending or imagining something. It implies a desire to create a fictional or imaginative scenario.

Examples:

I want to make believe that I'm a superhero.
She wants to make believe that she's a famous singer.
They want to make believe they are on a magical adventure.

Show examples from the web [+]

- I didn't want to make you believe anything.
If he wants to play his make-believe games, let him.
We know there are 13 applicant countries, from Lithuania to Turkey, and just one black hole in Europe, the Balkans, but because these countries are denied the opportunity to become applicants, we want to make them believe that this agreement is a miracle.
Most of you want to believe or, rather, want to make others believe that the problems that happen to come to the fore at any particular time should, or must, be solved with the aid of the EU.
You want to make me believe... that you wanted truly to catch up to me to Paris?
I want to know why you're playing make-believe with me when you could be out with a real woman tonight.
Look, believe me, I want to make him pay.
(Exhales) Look, believe me, I want to make him pay.
Look, I believe in the book. I want to make the movie.
But I believe him when he says he wants to make things up to me, 'cause I want to believe him.
I want to - I want to make a difference.
You just made me realise that I have spent my whole life on the sidelines, playing make-believe games, and now I want to get out there and make my life count for something.
Okay, I don't want to hear any more about this make-believe Fred person.
Before we begin, I want to make one thing crystal clear.
I want to make this place, The most famous restaurant in Vladivostok.
I'm smart, a-and I want to make a difference.
And I want to make ends meet...
I want to make sure that his money was received.
I want to make this just right.
I want to make things right between us.

Alternatives:

I would like to pretend
I wish to imagine
I desire to make believe

This phrase is correct and is commonly used to indicate the act of pretending or imagining something.

"I make believe"

This phrase is used to describe the action of pretending or imagining something without explicitly stating a desire or intention. It conveys the idea of engaging in make-believe or fantasy.

Examples:

She often makes believe that she is a princess.
He makes believe that he is a detective solving mysteries.
Children love to make believe they are exploring outer space.

Show examples from the web [+]

I make believe I'm retarded.
So I make believe that he really cares.
I laugh, I feel I make believe it's real
You are not at all the person that I make-believe fell in love with.
I'll make believe I didn't hear you.
I would make-believe I'm living in a castle, and it was wonderful not being in a bunker.
I make them believe the person I want dead is their enemy.
I had to make believe that I was afraid.
Then I got make-believe waves, or I got a make-believe waterfall, or a make-believe campfire.
I used to sit there and look up at the night sky and I'd make believe that the stars were my friends.
Just make believe I'm your slave.
I go everywhere to make believe it's Iran.
And I gave them this perfect life, where I retreated into make-believe.
I used to make believe a lot when I was a kid.
How can I make you believe me?
So I'll be your make-believe mom, like Wendy in Peter Pan.
The strangest one I ever had was when I had to make believe that I was twins.
I'll just make-believe that that dead Russian that I found in my house had nothing to do with you.
I make a call, believe me, they will take those shoes.
You believe I make the world prettier?

Alternatives:

I pretend
I imagine
I engage in make-believe

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I want to make believe vs I make believe