eluded; eluding

transitive verb

1
: to avoid adroitly : evade
the mice eluded the traps
managed to elude capture
2
: to escape the perception, understanding, or grasp of
subtlety simply eludes them
victory continued to elude us
3
: defy sense 2
it eludes explanation
Choose the Right Synonym for elude

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something.

escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Examples of elude in a Sentence

The killer was able to elude the police. The killer has eluded capture. The cause of the disease continues to elude researchers.
Recent Examples on the Web The ball eluded both for a goal kick by Baltgalvis which sealed the outcome. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 How baleen whales, which include humpback whales, are able to sing underwater has eluded scientists since whale songs were first discovered more than 50 years ago. Amarachi Orie, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 But that desirous result eludes screenwriters Coen and Tricia Cooke. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024 An understanding of the reproductive habits of giant sea spiders in Antarctica, for instance, has eluded marine biologists ever since the species was discovered more than 140 years ago. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 Leading actress nominations have increased by 11, yet victory eludes them. Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 Most significantly, pertaining to the innovator’s dilemma, what eludes telcos is the ability to turn analytical insights into innovative new services or pricing models. Marc Price, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Comprehensive solutions to the opioid crisis have eluded the city as the death toll continues to rise. Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 By analyzing vast and complex datasets, AI systems can identify patterns and correlations that might elude human analysts. Neil Sahota, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin eludere, from e- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of elude was in 1667

Dictionary Entries Near elude

Cite this Entry

“Elude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elude. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

elude

verb
eluded; eluding
1
: to avoid or escape by being quick, skillful, or tricky
2
: to escape the understanding or grasp of
the explanation eludes me

More from Merriam-Webster on elude

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