allude

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "allude" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to imply or hint at something without saying it directly. For example: "She alluded to her feelings for him without expressing them directly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Al-Jazeera has separately been accused of taking measures that worsen the trio's plight, such as threatening to sue the Egyptian government in the weeks before the trio's verdict was due, an unhelpful move to which Clooney seemed to allude in her comments.

The Guardian

A big newspaper group boasts that it will not accept adverts that allude to "extras"—yet one of its London titles offers "naughty busty multinational girls 4 your pleasure, all desires fulfilled".

The Economist

Atlanta has looked down here and I know that the state of Tennessee has looked down here.The Economist: You allude to the success of school choice in New Orleans.

The Economist

But perhaps our leadership could inspire the more receptive and inquisitive public attitudes needed to fight this polarisation.Nicholas GeiserSan FranciscoChannel Island storySIR – The problems in Sark to which you allude have arisen under the island's old feudal system and are not the consequence of democratic reforms ("Democratic revolution", July 14th).

The Economist

Some sermons may allude to the referendum in the coming weeks.

The Economist

"If you will pardon me for intruding the observation, sir, I have learned at the Ganymede that Mr Mandelson has of late been imparting the impression to various gentlemen's gentlemen that the whole idea of the loan—I allude to the loan about which Lord Falconer was recently inquiring was yours.

The Economist

As news of these legal tangles have spread, the Syriacs have stopped returning.Separate audiences with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, and Abdullah Gul, the president, held last year failed to make a difference And both leaders appeared to allude to the Syriacs' campaign for recognition of the 1915 massacres as a genocide.

The Economist

For your information, Mr Kibaki's favourite drinks are leach juice and Kenyan tea, not anything else you allude to.

The Economist

The cycle returns over and over to those moments during sexual development when the outcome of the process is still unknown, and which represent in Mr Barney's mind's eye a state of pure potentiality.The films were shot out of order over eight years, from 1994 on, though they allude to each other at every turn.

The Economist

Critics of post-9/11 art often allude to the philosopher Theodor Adorno's comment that "writing poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric".

The Economist

Nor did it allude to the anxious debate over the consulting firm's future, and whether it has, as one departing partner put it last year, "lost its way".The most prominent of Mr Gupta's challengers was Ian Davis, who manages McKinsey's London office.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allude" when you want to subtly reference something without explicitly stating it. This can add depth and nuance to your writing, engaging the reader in a more active role of interpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "allude" when you mean "elude". "Allude" means to refer to indirectly, while "elude" means to escape or avoid. For example, don't say "He alluded capture by the police" when you mean "He eluded capture by the police".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "allude" is as an intransitive verb. It signifies making an indirect reference to something, often without explicitly naming it. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in subtly referencing topics or events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allude" is a verb used to make an indirect reference to something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in writing. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its common usage in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. When using "allude", ensure you're not confusing it with "elude", which has a different meaning. Employ it to add subtlety to your writing, encouraging reader engagement through implication rather than direct statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hint at

Implies a more direct and intentional suggestion than "allude" does.

imply

Focuses on the speaker's intention to communicate something indirectly.

suggest

A broader term that can indicate a more explicit proposal or recommendation.

intimate

Suggests a subtle and often private or delicate indication.

insinuate

Often carries a negative connotation, implying something unpleasant or dubious.

refer indirectly to

More explicitly states the act of referencing, removing the subtlety.

make an allusion to

Nominalizes the verb, shifting the focus to the act of making a reference.

drop a hint

Informal and focuses on a very subtle and indirect suggestion.

give a clue

Suggests providing a piece of information that helps solve a puzzle or mystery.

touch upon

Indicates briefly mentioning a topic without going into detail.

FAQs

How do you use "allude" in a sentence?

Use "allude" to indirectly reference something without explicitly mentioning it. For example, "The speaker alluded to the economic crisis without directly blaming anyone."

What's the difference between "allude" and "refer"?

"Allude" means to mention something indirectly or suggestively, while "refer" means to mention something directly and explicitly. "Allude" is more subtle than "refer".

What can I say instead of "allude"?

Alternatives to "allude" include "hint at", "imply", "suggest", or "intimate" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "allude to" or just "allude"?

While "allude" can sometimes be used without "to", it is generally more common and grammatically sound to use "allude to" when you want to specify what is being referenced. For example, "He alluded to the problem" is better than "He alluded the problem".