allude

[uh-lood]

verb (used without object)

alluded, alluding 

1. to refer casually or indirectly; make an allusion (usually followed byto ).

   He often alluded to his poverty.

2. to contain a casual or indirect reference (usually followed byto ).

   The letter alludes to something now forgotten.

allude

/ əˈluːd /

verb

1. to refer indirectly, briefly, or implicitly

2. (loosely) to mention

Confusables Note

See elude

Other Word Forms

• preallude verb (used without object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of allude¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin allūdere “to play beside, make a playful allusion to,” equivalent to al- al- + lūdere “to play”

Word History and Origins

Origin of allude¹

C16: from Latin allūdere, from lūdere to sport, from lūdus a game

Example Sentences

The trio created companies alluding to the catering industry, such as Worldwide Coffee Traders Ltd, Catering Pantry International Ltd and Barista Distribution Ltd in a bid to cover their tracks, police said.

From BBC

Quite what he was alluding to remains to be seen.

From BBC

"I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting," she said, alluding to the massage services that some victims have said were used to enlist them in Epstein's crimes.

From BBC

In an interview with The Times, he described the drama as a “cry for help” and alluded to being “wronged” by someone, without elaborating.

From Los Angeles Times

Catherine also alluded to her cancer battle, saying nature had been her family's "sanctuary" for the past year.

From BBC