elude

[ ih-lood ]
/ ɪˈlud /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR elude ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), e·lud·ed, e·lud·ing.

to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery, etc.; evade: to elude capture.
to escape the understanding, perception, or appreciation of: The answer eludes me.

QUIZZES

FOR POSTERITY’S SAKE, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Are words your bailiwick? Take the latest quiz on the words from July 6 to July 12 to find out.
Question 1 of 7
bailiwick
a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.
place or source of origin.
a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of elude

1530–40; < Latin ēlūdere to deceive, evade, equivalent to ē- e-1 + lūdere to play, deceive

synonym study for elude

1. See escape.

OTHER WORDS FROM elude

e·lud·er, nounun·e·lud·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH elude

allowed allude aloud elude

Words nearby elude

elton, eluant, eluate, elucidate, elucubrate, elude, eluent, elul, elura, elusion, elusive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Content related to elude

What’s the Difference Between “Allude” vs. “Elude”?Does the difference between allude and elude escape you right now? It certainly won't after you learn how to distinguish the two words.
READ MORE

Words related to elude

dodge, confound, thwart, puzzle, outwit, evade, frustrate, baffle, foil, stall, stonewall, shun, flee, outrun, fly, shy, stump, double, duck, bilk

Example sentences from the Web for elude

British Dictionary definitions for elude

elude
/ (ɪˈluːd) /

verb (tr)

to escape or avoid (capture, one's pursuers, etc), esp by cunning
to avoid fulfilment of (a responsibility, obligation, etc); evade
to escape discovery, or understanding by; bafflethe solution eluded her

Derived forms of elude

eluder, nounelusion (ɪˈluːʒən), noun

Word Origin for elude

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

usage for elude

Elude is sometimes wrongly used where allude is meant: he was alluding (not eluding ) to his previous visit to the city
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012