allude

[ uh-lood ]

verb (used without object)

, al·lud·ed, al·lud·ing.

1. to refer casually or indirectly; make an allusion (usually followed by to ):

   He often alluded to his poverty.

2. to contain a casual or indirect reference (usually followed by to ):

   The letter alludes to something now forgotten.

allude

/ əˈluːd /

verb

1. to refer indirectly, briefly, or implicitly
2. (loosely) to mention

Usage

See elude

Other Words From

• pre·al·lude verb (used without object) prealluded prealluding

Word History and Origins

Origin of allude¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin allūdere “to play beside, make a playful allusion to,” equivalent to al- al- + lūdere “to play”

Word History and Origins

Origin of allude¹

C16: from Latin allūdere, from lūdere to sport, from lūdus a game

Example Sentences

Zardoya playfully alluded to the topicality of “Submarine” on “No One Noticed,” where she gently taunted the crowd, “If you want your ex back, sing it.”

From Los Angeles Times

Similarly, the Trump-Kennedy alliance has alluded to taking certain vaccines off the market.

From Salon

Gunn has previously said the backlash took the joy out of the sport for her, which she again alluded to on Wednesday.

From BBC

He has alluded to reducing regulatory costs for homebuilders and opening up swaths of federal land for home construction.

From Salon

It’s something she’s touched on in her music before, in 2012’s Electra Heart, on track Teen Idle, she alludes to being bulimic, with mentions of purging.

From BBC