elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd 

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

Synonyms of elude

• evade
• avoid
• escape

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

In addition to a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle, the man also faces a misdemeanor battery charge, according to online Ada County Jail records. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026

Willy Adames reached on a double that eluded left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, then Adams scored on a hit by Matt Chapman, who tried in vain to stretch it into a double and inadvertently stomped on the right hand of shortstop Zack Gelof. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 June 2026

Wilson has been charged with fleeing to elude arrest, unsafe passing into oncoming traffic, breaking and/or entering, larceny after breaking and entering, felony conspiracy, and felony possession with intent to distribute Schedule IV narcotics, records show. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026

But the clutch hit eluded the Yankees throughout Sunday’s 4-1 defeat in the Bronx, continuing a weekend-long trend while clinching a series loss to Cincinnati. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin ēlūdere "to trick, avoid, evade, flout," from ē-, variant of ex- ex- entry 1 + lūdere "to play, jest, tease" — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing elude

• elude someone's grasp

Rhymes for elude

• accrued
• allude
• collude
• conclude
• construed
• debuted
• delude
• endued
• ensued
• eschewed
• etude
• exclude

Kids Definition

elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd 

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