allude

verb

al·​lude ə-ˈlüd 

alluded; alluding

intransitive verb

: to make indirect reference

comments alluding to an earlier discussion

broadly : refer

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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

Examples of allude in a Sentence

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

His staff, however, alluded that another decision to stay in the seat could come soon. —Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024

Since departing the show, she's managed a feat that alludes many SNL alums: keeping her film and television career vital. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Oct. 2024

And, as Paul Krugman often alludes, one part of technological drift to the back of the pack is always theft, and one part is self-inflicted. —Matthew Chase Levy, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

The statement alluded that the King and Queen, 77, will make some separate engagements, and said that the sovereign will meet with two pioneering medical experts in melanoma treatment. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin allūdere "to play or romp beside, make a playful or mocking allusion to," from ad- ad- + lūdere "to play" — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

circa 1531, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing allude

• allude to

Kids Definition

allude

verb

al·​lude ə-ˈlüd 

alluded; alluding

: to speak of or hint at without mentioning directly