collude
verb (used without object)
to act together through a secret understanding, especially with evil or harmful intent.
had colluded
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past perfectof collude.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Bain shut down its South African consulting business last year after a state corruption inquiry into Jacob Zuma found the company had colluded with the former president to weaken South Africa’s tax agency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
To audible gasps, Nick Mohammed later admitted at the round table that he and Joe Marler had colluded by sabotaging the final round of the chess game so that Nick's team lost.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2025
The all-out legal brawl between Baldoni and Lively escalated when Baldoni sued The New York Times for defamation, claiming the paper had colluded with Lively to use text messages out of context to defame him.
From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2025
That same day, Sagbigsal — or someone purporting to be him — went on a poker forum to deny that he had colluded with Lew or anyone else.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2022
Chess watchers seem to agree that it was likely the Soviets had colluded, on some level, at Curaçao.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
