elude
Americanverb (used with object)
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eludes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
eluded,
past participle, past
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eluding
present participle
verb
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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; 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
Synonym Usage
See escape.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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eludesimple
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eludessimple
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have eludedperfect
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has eludedperfect
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am eludingprogressive
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are eludingprogressive
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is eludingprogressive
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have been eludingperfect progressive
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has been eludingperfect progressive
Past
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eludedsimple
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had eludedperfect
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was eludingprogressive
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were eludingprogressive
-
had been eludingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing elude
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The Outsiders
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Grade 9, 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.
See Examples For:
A piglet that captured Los Angelenos’ hearts and minds after its attempts to elude multiple pursuers in West Hollywood last weekend went viral has been adopted by a foundation headed by Grammy-award-winning songwriter Diane Warren.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Amy Hunt retained her 100m title on Saturday and despite winning 200m silver at last year's World Championships, the national title continues to elude her.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
After disappearing in 1993, Messina Denaro managed to elude authorities for the next 30 years as the Italian state cracked down on the Sicilian mob.
From Barron's ● May 28, 2026
He had also brought his bike, which seemed to be the best way to elude the masses.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
He had represented the limitless possibilities in us all by living his life, striving for those dreams that seemed to elude the neighborhood year after year.
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
It’s also likely that the true extent and reach of these secret sponsorships still eludes us.
From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2026
Not every collection is a success: a delicate red-orange shrimp daintily eludes the suction tube, swirling its long antenna as it swims almost triumphantly beyond reach.
From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026
The New York Times is always entertaining when it grapples, or fails to grapple, with climate change, the scale of which simply eludes it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
A World Cup still eludes Clarke, who has said there is a "75% chance" he will not renew his deal with the Scottish FA after next summer's finals.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025
The more anxious I am to find sleep, the more it eludes me.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
This has eluded neuroscience for decades, but the introduction of a new class of drugs for weight loss may have given us just the lever we need to understand it.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
Joe Biden used decades of congressional experience to land deals that eluded other White House staff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
He created Germany's opening goal for Felix Nmecha with the sort of delicate touch and quick thinking that eluded him for much of last term.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
Maybe the stars will align and give Cristiano Ronaldo the one final World Cup moment that has eluded him throughout his legendary career.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026
His dream—his obsession—of becoming the youngest World Champion in history had eluded him.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
This is an example of what Tuchel was likely eluding to when using the word "sloppy".
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
The Apache medicine man Geronimo made his now-legendary name leading raids and eluding capture during the Apache wars of the 19th century.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
Peddemors netted again with a cross that found its way in after eluding several players before Beerensteyn rifled in from distance to double Wolfsburg's lead.
From Barron's ● Nov. 19, 2025
That extended stretch of dominance is still eluding them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2025
“No,” Rick said; he grabbed at Phil Resch’s hand; Resch retreated, eluding him.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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.
