elude
verb (used with object)
to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery, etc.; evade.
had been eluding
-
past perfect progressiveof elude.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
It also helped attract the media attention that had been eluding her for months.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 15, 2018
A warrant was issued for Kelley’s arrest after he was indicted in May, but he had been eluding authorities, said Sharon Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 9, 2015
And the next—yes, the very next, was the man whom she had been eluding all the evening.
From Wych Hazel by Susan Warner
Already he had his hand upon the solution of the whole puzzle that had been eluding his best efforts up to now.
From Motor Boat Boys on the St. Lawrence by Louis Arundel
God, how he desired to live just then, to uncover that fleeing Murphy and wring from him the whole truth which had been eluding him all these years!
From Bob Hampton of Placer by Randall Parrish
