Allude vs. Elude: What's the Difference?
The words allude and elude have distinct meanings and are used in very different contexts. To allude means to suggest or refer to something indirectly or to hint at. It often relates to literary or rhetorical referencing. On the other hand, elude means to escape from or avoid something or someone, typically in a skillful or cunning way. It is commonly used to describe avoiding capture, comprehension, or recognition.
How do you use the word allude in a sentence?
Use the word allude when you want to make an indirect reference to something without mentioning it explicitly. It's particularly useful in situations where drawing a direct parallel might be inappropriate or too forward. Allude is also often used in literary discussions to point out subtle references or connections between works. An understanding of the context is required to grasp what is being alluded to.
Examples of allude in a sentence
- The novelist alludes to Greek mythology to add depth to her characters.
- During the speech, he alluded to his humble beginnings without giving away too many details.
- She subtly alluded to the upcoming changes, piquing everyone's curiosity.
How do you use the word elude in a sentence?
The word elude is typically used when someone or something manages to avoid capture, detection, or understanding. It often conveys a sense of evasion that involves skill or cleverness. Elude is frequently found in contexts involving law enforcement, sports, or discussions about problems that are difficult to solve or comprehend.
Examples of elude in a sentence
- The suspect managed to elude the police by fleeing into the dense forest.
- Despite several attempts, the solution continued to elude the research team.
- The championship title has eluded the team for the past five years.
Allude and Elude definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Allude definition:
Allude is a verb that means to make an indirect reference to something, to hint at without mentioning directly.
Allude parts of speech:
Allude pronunciation:
Allude is pronounced as /əˈluːd/.
Elude definition:
Elude, also a verb, means to escape from or avoid someone or something, typically in a skillful or cunning way.
Elude parts of speech:
Elude pronunciation:
Elude is pronounced as /ɪˈluːd/.
Allude is a verb that means to make an indirect reference to something, to hint at without mentioning directly.
Allude parts of speech:
- As a verb: She alluded to past events during her talk.
Allude pronunciation:
Allude is pronounced as /əˈluːd/.
Elude definition:
Elude, also a verb, means to escape from or avoid someone or something, typically in a skillful or cunning way.
Elude parts of speech:
- As a verb: The prey eluded the predator with an unexpected turn.
Elude pronunciation:
Elude is pronounced as /ɪˈluːd/.
Allude vs. Elude in a nutshell
In summary, allude refers to indirect references or hints, often found in speech or literature, while elude refers to escaping or avoiding, commonly in a clever or skillful manner. Remember, allude engages in a subtle mention, whereas elude focuses on evasion or escape. Both serve distinct purposes in language and are invaluable for effective communication across a range of contexts.
Get AI Writing Assistance Wherever You Type
Make sure your vocabulary is on point and every punctuation mark is in the right place, no matter where you’re working. Grammarly works across more than 500,000 websites and apps so you can improve your writing without copying, pasting, or breaking focused.
More Commonly Confused Words
Interest piqued? Pore (not pour) over other commonly confused words to help your writing reach peak (not peek) performance.