elusive
ih-LOO-sihv
Elusive (adjective) means Hard to catch, find, pin down, or fully understand. Example: “The elusive snow leopard is rarely photographed in the wild.”
adjective
1
Hard to catch, find, pin down, or fully understand.
"The elusive snow leopard is rarely photographed in the wild."
"A satisfying answer to the question remained elusive."
2
Rarely seen or encountered.
"He's become something of an elusive figure since retiring from public life."
How to use elusive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSlippery in a figurative sense: something that keeps escaping your grasp, whether it's an animal, an idea, or a person.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
elusive answer
remain elusive
elusive creature
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more elusive
- Superlative
- most elusive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ snow leopard is rarely photographed in the wild.
Etymology
From Latin elusus, the past participle of eludere, "to dodge or trick" — the same root as "elude".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for elusive
See all rhymes for elusive →Frequently asked questions
What does “elusive” mean?
The word “elusive” means hard to catch, find, pin down, or fully understand. In plain terms, slippery in a figurative sense: something that keeps escaping your grasp, whether it's an animal, an idea, or a person.
How do you pronounce “elusive”?
“Elusive” is pronounced ih-LOO-sihv (/ɪˈl(j)u.sɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “elusive” in a sentence?
Here is “elusive” used in a sentence: “The elusive snow leopard is rarely photographed in the wild.”
What is another word for “elusive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “elusive” include elusory.
What part of speech is “elusive”?
“Elusive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “elusive” come from?
The word “elusive” comes from Latin. From Latin elusus, the past participle of eludere, "to dodge or trick" — the same root as "elude".
Is “elusive” a common word?
“Elusive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “elusive” have?
“Elusive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: hard to catch, find, pin down, or fully understand.
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