elude Definition
- 1to avoid or escape from someone or something by being quick, skillful, or clever
- 2to be difficult to achieve or find
Using elude: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "elude" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The thief eluded the police by escaping through the back door.
Example
The answer to the question eluded me for hours.
Example
The solution to the puzzle continues to elude me.
Example
Success seems to elude him despite his hard work.
elude Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using elude
elude one's grasp
to be just out of reach or impossible to obtain
Example
The championship title has eluded the team's grasp for years.
elude the issue
to avoid discussing or addressing the main point or problem
Example
The politician tried to elude the issue by changing the subject.
elude memory
to be forgotten or unable to be remembered
Example
The name of the movie eluded my memory, even though I had seen it before.
Phrases with elude
elude capture
to avoid being caught by the authorities
Example
The fugitive managed to elude capture for several months.
elude detection
to avoid being detected or discovered
Example
The spy's true identity eluded detection for years.
elude comprehension
to be too difficult to understand or grasp
Example
The concept of quantum mechanics eludes comprehension for many people.
Origins of elude
from Latin 'eludere', meaning 'to play with, mock, or frustrate'
Summary: elude in Brief
The verb 'elude' [ih-lood] means to avoid or escape from someone or something by being quick, skillful, or clever, or to be difficult to achieve or find. It can refer to physical evasion, as in 'The thief eluded the police,' or abstract concepts, as in 'The answer to the question eluded me.' 'Elude' is used in phrases like 'elude capture' and idioms like 'elude one's grasp,' which means to be just out of reach or impossible to obtain.