collude
verb (used without object)
to act together through a secret understanding, especially with evil or harmful intent.
had colluded
-
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
Apple settled a lawsuit that alleged they had colluded to suppress workers' salaries, and they won a trial in which they were accused of conspiracy to fix the prices of e-books.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2024
Some members of their family no longer speak to them, they said, driven by a suspicion that they had "colluded" in some way "with the people who took the children away".
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2023
Then, in 1949, a letter emerged suggesting the Russian had colluded with the British.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 14, 2023
Chess watchers seem to agree that it was likely the Soviets had colluded, on some level, at Curaçao.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
