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Allude or Elude?
The Difference between "Allude" and "Elude"
"Allude" and "elude" are easy to confuse because they sound similar.- "Allude" means to refer to indirectly. For example:
- The CEO will allude to your contribution during her speech.
- "Elude" means to avoid or to evade. For example:
- You must elude the dogs to have a chance of escaping.
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Allude
"To allude" means to refer to indirectly. The verbs "to allude" and "to mention" are close in meaning, but "to allude" is less direct. It can be translated as to hint at or to offer an indication about.Here are some examples of "allude" in sentences:
- This Chinese saying alludes to nature's power: "A spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie."
- "Forewarned is forearmed" alludes to the importance of being in control.
- The judge did not mention his previous crimes specifically, but he alluded to them in his summary.
Elude
"To elude" means to avoid, to evade, or to escape from.Here are some examples of "elude" in sentences:
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid try to elude capture.
- If you want something, it will elude you. If you do not want something, you will get ten of it in the mail.
(Author Anna Quindlen)
- Peter Beardsley used to allude defenders with his trademark foot shuffle.

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See Also
adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? bear or bare (witness, the brunt, fruit)? who's or whose? What are verbs? List of easily confused wordsPage URL