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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The project is nearing federal environmental review after two years of public engagement, a milestone that has eluded past state and city administrations. Sam Schwartz, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2025 Dangerous Gmail Invoice Bypasses Email Security Lady Gaga Creates Mayhem On ‘Saturday Night Live’ J-Hope Has Yet to Hit No. 1 as a Soloist J-Hope may be one of the most successful South Korean soloists on the Digital Song Sales chart, but there’s still one accomplishment that has eluded him. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 If the bill fails in either chamber, Congress is likely to pass a temporary bill to buy additional time to forge a compromise that has eluded lawmakers since the fiscal year began in October. Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2025 However, that relies on the AI response being useful and accurate, something that often still eludes generative AI systems like Gemini. Ars Technica, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elude

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elude. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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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