English vocabulary · B2
Elude
/iˈluːd/ · v.
It means to cleverely escape or avoid someone or something.
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Example sentences
- The thief managed to elude the police in the crowd.
- The answer eluded him for hours.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- e — out (from Latin)
- lud — play (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- evade (avoiding a question or obligation cleverly)
- escape (breaking free from danger or confinement)
- dodge (avoiding something by quick movement)
Words with the same root
ludere — play
- illusion — a false image that plays tricks on the mind
- allude — to refer to something indirectly — to play alongside it
- ludicrous — so unreasonable it seems like a joke
Lesson notes
Elude. It means to cleverely escape or avoid someone or something.
Similar words are evade, escape, and dodge. Use Elude when cleverly avoiding capture.
The thief managed to elude the police in the crowd. The answer eluded him for hours.
From Latin ludere, meaning to play. To escape by a clever trick is to elude.