Word
allude
Meanings
to mention or suggest something indirectly; to hint at something
to refer indirectly to a book, film, event, or well-known idea, especially in speech or writing
Definition
To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
To allude to something is to refer to it in an indirect way, often expecting the listener to understand the hint. People allude when they do not want to speak openly or when they assume shared knowledge. It is common in speeches, writing, and polite conversation.
Examples
- She alluded to a past mistake but refused to explain it.
- The speaker alludes to recent layoffs without naming the company.
- In his novel, the author alludes to classic myths throughout the story.
- He tried to allude to the problem with a joke, but no one laughed.
Common mistake
Learners often say “allude something” instead of “allude to something.”
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.
- infer To infer means to form a conclusion from evidence or clues rather than from a direct statement.