elude

[ih-lood]

verb (used with object)

eluded, eluding 

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

Other Word Forms

• eluder noun
• elusion 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

Yet, a first goal in a competitive match had eluded him - until now.

From BBC

And even if that reference eluded anyone, Bock’s bouncing, daydreaming, old world melody, practically encoded into our cultural DNA, assured perfect understanding.

From Los Angeles Times

In England's case an unfulfilled struggle to win the World Cup which has eluded the men's team since 1966.

From BBC

Now, while a deal with Putin to end the war in Ukraine continues to elude the US President, Xi is getting ready to host him in Beijing.

From BBC

Trapped in underground rocks, a potential energy resource has eluded generations of British politicians.

From BBC

Related Words

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