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

It seemed every time Mahomes tried to work his magic, eluding defenders, making his signature sidearm throws on the run, KC receivers would drop the ball.

From Time

One mutation, called E484K, which emerged independently in the variants seen in South Africa and Brazil, has shown signs of eluding antibodies produced either through the natural immune system or therapeutic drugs.

From Washington Post

Another danger can arise if a mutation helps the virus elude the body’s immune response.

From Science News

Despite their best efforts, translating this prowess into a digital, artificial computer “nose” has eluded scientists.

From Singularity Hub 

Personal excellence continues to elude me, but I have voluntarily subjected myself to many torturous workouts over the years, in the irrational belief that getting marginally faster will provide some measure of redemption for my myriad failures.

From Outside Online

Elsewhere, she tells her inamorata, “It does not matter if you elude my arms/my dear, when thought alone can imprison you.”

From The Daily Beast

But success stories elude many other former football players.

From The Daily Beast

Beautiful, daring and smart, Sophie managed to elude arrest on many occasions.

From The Daily Beast

But Shailene Woodley, both onscreen and off, seems to elude quick characterization.

From The Daily Beast

They would have assumed that they needed to get far out over an ocean to elude that.

From The Daily Beast

For a second Marius considered whether he might not attempt to elude Garnache by a wild and sudden dash towards his men.

From Project Gutenberg

There seems to be one oath of this description which bids fair to elude all guess-work as to its origin or meaning.

From Project Gutenberg

If only she could reach the corridor above with its intricate windings, she could elude pursuit in some dark corner.

From Project Gutenberg

The hounds, who well knew where the ocelot had gone to, were chasing it from tree to tree; but still it continued to elude them.

From Project Gutenberg

The next afternoon Jenny, managing to elude the watchful eyes of her mother and governess, came over to the poor-house.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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