Elude Meaning
/ɪˈljuːd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo evade or escape from (someone or something), especially by using cunning or skill.
verbTo shake off (a pursuer); to give someone the slip.
Sentence Examples
She managed to elude the embarrassing situation that she found herself in.
Tom managed to elude capture.
Tom managed to elude the police for three weeks.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The clever thief managed to ____ the police by hiding in the sewers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She managed to ____ the embarrassing situation that she found herself in.
Word Origin & History
From Latin ēlūdō (“to evade, elude”), from ē- (“out of”, short form of ex-) + lūdō (“to play; to trick”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Thus the observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours to elude or avoid it."
— 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 26:
"The line continued in operation until about 1908, but the precise date of closure has eluded research."
— 1951 August, P. W. Gentry, “Cliff Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 516:
"It leaves City still searching for the Champions League, the trophy that has always eluded them"
— 2021 May 29, Phil McNulty, “Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:
"Podolski gave Walcott a chance to further embellish Arsenal's first-half performance when he eluded James Perch and slipped the ball through to the striker."
— 2012 December 29, Paul Doyle, “Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle”, in The Guardian:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The clever thief managed to ____ the police by hiding in the sewers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She managed to ____ the embarrassing situation that she found herself in.