allude
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to refer casually or indirectly; make an allusion (usually followed byto ).
He often alluded to his poverty.
-
to contain a casual or indirect reference (usually followed byto ).
The letter alludes to something now forgotten.
verb
-
to refer indirectly, briefly, or implicitly
-
(loosely) to mention
Commonly Confused
See elude
Other Word Forms
- preallude verb (used without object)
Etymology
Origin of allude
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin allūdere “to play beside, make a playful allusion to,” equivalent to al- al- + lūdere “to play”
Explanation
When you allude to something, you don't identify it or mention it specifically. If you allude to the fact that a cop is sitting right behind you, your friends might stop talking about their plans to rob a bank. Allude is from Latin allūdere "to play with, joke" from the prefix ad- "toward" plus lūdere "to play." The corresponding noun is allusion, which is often used of an indirect reference in literature: Helen, a fitting name for a woman of great beauty, is an allusion to Helen of Troy.
Vocabulary lists containing allude
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 1
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a statement Tuesday that didn’t allude to the suspended deliveries, the Central Bank of Iraq said it wasn’t short of U.S. currency.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
In a statement that didn’t allude to the move, the Central Bank of Iraq said it wasn’t short of U.S. currency.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
As the pictures flashed, I spotted an American flag in the room and suggested she use it as a backdrop to allude to the album.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
During a recent tour in London, Perry did appear to allude to her relationship status.
From BBC • Oct. 27, 2025
He began to allude to what was happening, to that idea that something had happened.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
