Join In
Twitter
YouTube
Weekly Newsletter
Libraries
A-Z Grammatical Terms
A-Z Confused Words
FAQs by Writers
A-Z Awkward Plurals
Punctuation Lessons
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
Allude or Elude?
What Is 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.
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.

Ready for the Test?
Help Us Improve Grammar Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Find Us Quicker!
- When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Grammar Monster quicker if you add #gm to your search term.