Quick answer
Elude means to escape or avoid something, or to fail to be remembered or understood. Allude means to refer to something indirectly. A name might elude you, but you allude to a story without naming it.
The core difference
Elude is about escaping or slipping away from someone; allude is about hinting at something without saying it directly.
- elude — to escape or avoid, or to not be remembered or understood: Her name eludes me right now.
- allude — to refer to something indirectly: He alluded to the problem without mentioning it by name.
How to tell them apart
Try this trick: allude starts with all, and you allude to something, so it always points at a topic. Elude starts with e, like escape.
The mix-up shows up in writing because the two words sound close. Remember that elude is about something slipping away from you, while allude is about a hint. Also note that allude is normally followed by to, whereas elude takes its object directly.
Frequently asked questions
Do you say allude to or allude of?
You allude to something. The verb is normally followed by to.
Can a word elude you?
Yes. When a word or name eludes you, you cannot bring it to mind.
Do elude and allude have anything in common?
Both come from Latin words related to ludere, meaning to play, but their meanings are now quite different.
