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.
But as with the Holy Grail of ancient Christian legend, an early-detection multicancer test has long eluded all who have pursued it. Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025 Widespread distribution across the country eludes the liquid and it’s rarely mentioned in conversation with the usual suspects of scotch superstardom. Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Peraza then launched a fly ball to the right field fence, barely eluding the grasp of outfielder Cam Smith, as two runs scored. Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025 Decker, an Army veteran with extensive survival training, has managed to elude capture for three months. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 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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