elude

[ ih-lood ]

verb (used with object)

, e·lud·ed, e·lud·ing.

1. to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery, etc.; evade:

   to elude capture.

   Synonyms: dodge, shun

2. to escape the understanding, perception, or appreciation of:

   The answer eludes me.

elude

/ ɪˈluːd; ɪˈluːʒən /

verb

1. to escape or avoid (capture, one's pursuers, etc), esp by cunning
2. to avoid fulfilment of (a responsibility, obligation, etc); evade
3. to escape discovery, or understanding by; baffle

   the solution eluded her

Usage

Elude is sometimes wrongly used where allude is meant: he was alluding (not eluding) to his previous visit to the city

Derived Forms

• elusion, noun
• eˈluder, noun

Other Words From

• e·lud·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elude¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin ēlūdere “to deceive, evade,” equivalent to ē- “from, out of” + lūdere “to play, deceive”; e- ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of elude¹

C16: from Latin ēlūdere to deceive, from lūdere to play

Synonym Study

See escape.

Example Sentences

“Because autism presents itself differently in females, a lot of times they can use masking techniques to elude being diagnosed,” Ohora explains.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has nevertheless managed to elude justice in the case because of a series of partisan rulings by U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

The search for the start-to-start consistency and the extended stretches of dominance that made Buehler the team’s ace from 2019 to 2021 continued to elude the right-hander in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies before a sold-out crowd of 52,267 in Chavez Ravine, further muddling the team’s playoff pitching picture.

From Los Angeles Times

He had a rocket of a shot from long range, quick feet that helped him elude opponents and could play centrally or on the wing.

From BBC

And despite a valiant effort at the final hole, McIlroy was unable to elude another gut-wrenching miss on a big stage.

From BBC

Related Words

• baffle
• confound
• dodge
• evade
• flee
• foil
• frustrate
• outrun
• outwit
• puzzle
• shun
• stall
• stonewall
• thwart