allude

verb

al·lude ə-ˈlüd How to pronounce allude (audio)

alluded; alluding

intransitive verb

: to make indirect reference

comments alluding to an earlier discussion

broadly : refer

Did you know?

Usage of Allude

Allude is a word with playful roots—literally. It comes from the Latin alludere, which means "to play with," and shares the root of Latin ludere ("to play") with other English words, such as ludicrous and delude. One of the former meanings of allude was "to engage in wordplay": this sense is now long obsolete.

Although some people think that allude must always specifically entail an indirect reference, this is not the case; people have been using allude in the sense of "to refer to directly" for well over a century (as in "The Man Without a Country," the short story by Edward Everett Hale from 1863: "He never alluded so directly to his story again..."). So while allude may more commonly be used in the sense of expressing something indirectly, it is neither uncommon nor improper to use it to mean something more direct.

Allude need not always be followed by the preposition to, although that is the most common construction in modern usage.

Example Sentences

As alluded to previously, the entire universe may actually exist in a higher-dimensional space.

Clifford A. Pickover, Surfing Through Hyperspace, 1999 Adams had alluded to slavery in 1816, when he confided to Jefferson that "there will be greater difficulties to preserve our Union, than You and I, our Fathers Brothers Friends … have had to form it."

Joseph J. Ellis, American Heritage, May/June 1993 The more challenging problems in fact—ones that the optimists rarely allude to—will be the problems of success.

Charles R. Morris, Atlantic, October 1989 Mrs. Simons alluded to some health problems, without being specific.

Recent Examples on the Web That may allude to significant Ukrainian sniper activity along roads in the Donbas region and elsewhere in the country.

Eric Tegler, Forbes, 15 June 2022 Her post doesn’t allude to the imminent shootings and police have not officially connected it to a motive.

Fox News, 27 Aug. 2022 Maybe people at the tip-top of the Democratic political bureaucracy should not allude to their familiarity with the low-down internet.

Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2022 Though the photo didn't allude to anything romantic, the model later uploaded a snap with her beau a month later from their west coast vacation together.

Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE.com, 27 June 2022 The university’s statement on the firing did not even allude to the free speech issue.

New York Times, 23 May 2022 Yet Citizen can also allude to the necessity of a therapeutic relationship—a deep need to call out, to question, to return to, to remember, to speak of the past; and the twin need for someone to listen.

Ana Cecilia Alvarez, The Atlantic, 1 May 2022 Agrawal himself appeared to allude to that impact when he was named CEO.

Clare Duffy, CNN, 9 Apr. 2022 The traffic stop that would end his life came three days later. Lyoya seemed to allude to his troubles in a Facebook post from August 2020.

Washington Post, 2 May 2022 See More

单词	alluding
释义	allude verb al·lude ə-ˈlüd alluded; alluding intransitive verb : to make indirect reference comments alluding to an earlier discussion broadly : refer Did you know? Usage of Allude Allude is a word with playful roots—literally. It comes from the Latin alludere, which means "to play with," and shares the root of Latin ludere ("to play") with other English words, such as ludicrous and delude. One of the former meanings of allude was "to engage in wordplay": this sense is now long obsolete. Although some people think that allude must always specifically entail an indirect reference, this is not the case; people have been using allude in the sense of "to refer to directly" for well over a century (as in "The Man Without a Country," the short story by Edward Everett Hale from 1863: "He never alluded so directly to his story again..."). So while allude may more commonly be used in the sense of expressing something indirectly, it is neither uncommon nor improper to use it to mean something more direct. Allude need not always be followed by the preposition to, although that is the most common construction in modern usage. Synonyms hint imply indicate infer insinuate intimate suggest See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences As alluded to previously, the entire universe may actually exist in a higher-dimensional space. Clifford A. Pickover, Surfing Through Hyperspace, 1999 Adams had alluded to slavery in 1816, when he confided to Jefferson that "there will be greater difficulties to preserve our Union, than You and I, our Fathers Brothers Friends … have had to form it." Joseph J. Ellis, American Heritage, May/June 1993 The more challenging problems in fact—ones that the optimists rarely allude to—will be the problems of success. Charles R. Morris, Atlantic, October 1989 Mrs. Simons alluded to some health problems, without being specific. Recent Examples on the Web That may allude to significant Ukrainian sniper activity along roads in the Donbas region and elsewhere in the country. Eric Tegler, Forbes, 15 June 2022 Her post doesn’t allude to the imminent shootings and police have not officially connected it to a motive. Fox News, 27 Aug. 2022 Maybe people at the tip-top of the Democratic political bureaucracy should not allude to their familiarity with the low-down internet. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2022 Though the photo didn't allude to anything romantic, the model later uploaded a snap with her beau a month later from their west coast vacation together. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE.com, 27 June 2022 The university’s statement on the firing did not even allude to the free speech issue. New York Times, 23 May 2022 Yet Citizen can also allude to the necessity of a therapeutic relationship—a deep need to call out, to question, to return to, to remember, to speak of the past; and the twin need for someone to listen. Ana Cecilia Alvarez, The Atlantic, 1 May 2022 Agrawal himself appeared to allude to that impact when he was named CEO. Clare Duffy, CNN, 9 Apr. 2022 The traffic stop that would end his life came three days later. Lyoya seemed to allude to his troubles in a Facebook post from August 2020. Washington Post, 2 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin alludere, literally, to play with, from ad- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous First Known Use circa 1531, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing allude allude to allude to Kids Definition allude verb al·lude ə-ˈlüd alluded; alluding : to talk about or hint at without mentioning directly alluding 1 of 2 adjective as in referring Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance referring indicative signifying denoting allusive telltale characteristic symptomatic reflective implying denotative hinting exhibiting significant insinuating symbolic expressive demonstrative connoting suggestive symbolical alluding 2 of 2 verb present participle of allude as in implying to convey an idea indirectly Mrs. Simons alluded to some health problems, without being specific Synonyms & Similar Words implying indicating hinting suggesting referring intimating inferring insinuating mentioning pointing signifying signaling signalizing adverting signalling smelling (of) smacking (of) Antonyms & Near Antonyms announcing proclaiming declaring explaining describing elucidating delineating spelling out See More
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allude

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing allude

Kids Definition

verb

adjective

verb