verb
elude
ih-LOOD
verb
1
To avoid or escape someone or something, often through cleverness or luck.
"The suspect eluded police for nearly a week."
"A cure for the disease has eluded scientists for decades."
2
To fail to be remembered or understood by someone.
"Her name eludes me right now."
"The meaning of the poem eluded most of the class."
How to Use Elude
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo slip away from something — whether it's a pursuer, an answer, or a memory.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "allude" (to hint at something) — they sound alike but mean very different things.
Easily confused with
allude
Common pairings
elude capture
elude police
the answer eludes me
Word Forms
eluded past tense, eludes singular
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The suspect _____ police for nearly a week.
Etymology
From Latin eludere, "to trick or dodge" — built from ex- ("out") and ludere ("to play").