elude

American  

[ih-lood] / ɪˈlud /

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.

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elude British  

/ 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

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Usage

Elude is sometimes wrongly used where allude is meant: he was alluding (not eluding) to his previous visit to the city

Related Words

See escape.

Other Word Forms

• eluder noun
• elusion noun

Etymology

Origin of elude

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin ēlūdere “to deceive, evade,” equivalent to ē- “from, out of” + lūdere “to play, deceive”; see e- ¹

Explanation

Elude means "evade or escape," like the way you might elude the other kids during a game of hide-and-seek. This word can also mean "to be hard to understand." No matter how hard you try, the finer points of quantum physics might elude you. Elude has a slippery feeling to it. You elude the police, math can elude you — and that yak you went to see on safari but never got a glimpse of, you might say that he has eluded you as well. Delude means "to deceive," and there are times when someone can both delude and elude you — like when the conman took your money and then escaped out the back door.

Example Sentences

High-speed trains, and pretty much any mass transportation improvement, continue to elude the United States, but one can experience them elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

While McIlroy's relief and joy at finally landing the one major to elude him came pouring out on the 18th green, Justin Rose watched on - wondering what might have been.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

To elude them, he skis directly onto an Olympic bobsled track.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz is targeting a career Grand Slam at the Australian Open but winning the only major to elude him will be no easy feat with great rival Jannik Sinner standing in his way.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

But a master’s degree in math would elude Katherine just as it had Dorothy.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

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