allude: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “allude” mean?
To suggest or mention something indirectly or without explicit statement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To suggest or mention something indirectly or without explicit statement.
To make an indirect reference to a person, event, or thing, often requiring the listener to make the connection themselves. It implies a subtle, rather than direct, mention.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use 'allude' with the same sense and formality.
Connotations
Both equally formal; no difference in nuance.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British academic and literary prose, but widely used in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “allude” in a Sentence
allude to + noun/noun phraseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “allude” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She cleverly alluded to the scandal without naming anyone.
- The speaker alluded to the company's financial difficulties.
American English
- The article alluded to potential policy changes.
- He kept alluding to his past successes.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in formal reports or meetings to subtly reference sensitive topics: 'The CEO alluded to future restructuring without giving details.'
Academic
Common in literary analysis or historical writing: 'The author alludes to Classical mythology throughout the poem.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; considered formal. 'He kept alluding to a surprise but wouldn't say what it was.'
Technical
Used in legal or diplomatic contexts to refer indirectly to a precedent or clause.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “allude”
- Confusing 'allude' with 'elude' (to escape).
- Using it without 'to': 'He alluded the problem.' (Incorrect) vs. 'He alluded to the problem.' (Correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Allude' is indirect and suggestive; 'refer' is direct and explicit. You refer to a book by naming it; you allude to it by quoting a line without citing the source.
No. 'Allude' is always followed by the preposition 'to' + the object of the allusion (e.g., 'allude to an event').
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, literary, academic, and professional contexts. It is less common in casual everyday speech.
Remember: You 'allude' (mention) TO something. You 'elude' (escape) FROM something. A mnemonic: 'Allude' has an 'a' like 'hint at'; 'elude' has an 'e' like 'escape'.
To suggest or mention something indirectly or without explicit statement.
Allude: in British English it is pronounced /əˈluːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈluːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'allude'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'allude' as a 'clue' you drop. To 'allude' is to give an indirect 'clue'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A PATH (an indirect path, not a direct one).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'allude' correctly?