eluded

USAGE SUMMARY

"eluded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an action that someone or something evaded or got away from. For example: "The thief eluded the police and managed to escape with the jewelry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It turned out to be his white whale; as he hunted it and obsessed about destroying it, it eluded him and succeeded.

The Guardian - Money

The visitors' reply was a move that almost made it 3-0, however, as the lively Wilson eluded challengers to get himself in a shooting position but Roger Johnson did just enough to block at the expense of a corner.

The Guardian - Sport

Though he bears a quiet pride about the subsea crossing, it says something about the unshowy culture of mining that the tunnel's anniversary might have eluded even its own designer.

The Guardian

The Irish pack drove towards the line from a lineout and the scrum-half, Scott Steele, eluded a despairing tackle from Kane Thompson to score a second try.

The Guardian - Sport

Let's challenge ourselves to find the common ground that has eluded us.

The Guardian

The luxuries that underpinned our middle-class upbringings – terraced houses in leafy streets, holidays abroad, money left in the account at the end of the month – had thus far eluded us, and it was beginning to look like they always would.

The Guardian - Opinion

England, arguably as the only possible victors, came even closer to winning yesterday but there was no similar sense of excitement, just an excruciating recognition that success has eluded them.

The Guardian - Sport

Wayne Rooney had admitted that he is desperate to lift the FA Cup, the one major trophy that has eluded him throughout his club career.

The Guardian - Sport

When a small bell rang and Don joined in the chants of 'om', his wry smile hinted of – to me at least – a sense of contentment that had eluded him since we joined the show in 1960.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It is clearly the work of two unusual individuals who love these sounds, even the desperately unfashionable ones that have so far eluded revival even in this retro-maniac era – and their love makes me love them, too.

The Guardian - Music

Healthy sleep habits have eluded me since childhood.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eluded" when you want to emphasize the difficulty or cleverness involved in avoiding something. For example, "The solution eluded the scientists for years."

Common error

Avoid using "eluded" when you mean "alluded". "Eluded" means to escape or avoid, while "alluded" means to hint at or refer to indirectly. For example, "He alluded to the possibility of a promotion" is correct, not "He eluded to the possibility of a promotion".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "eluded" is as the past tense of the verb "elude", indicating that someone or something successfully avoided or escaped something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eluded" is the past tense form of "elude", meaning to escape or avoid. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media contexts. While alternatives like "evaded" or "avoided" exist, "eluded" often implies a level of skill or difficulty in the act of escaping. Remember not to confuse it with "alluded", which has a different meaning. Use "eluded" to add nuance to your writing when describing something that has proven difficult to catch, understand, or attain.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Evaded

Implies a deliberate act of avoiding or escaping something, often with skill or cunning.

Escaped

Suggests a successful flight from danger or confinement.

Avoided

Indicates a conscious effort to stay away from someone or something.

Dodged

Suggests a quick or nimble movement to avoid something.

Circumvented

Implies finding a way around an obstacle or difficulty.

Sidestepped

Suggests avoiding a direct confrontation or issue.

Bypassed

Indicates going around or avoiding a place or system.

Slipped away from

Suggests a subtle or unnoticed escape.

Lost

Implies that something or someone could not be found or caught.

Remained unattainable

Highlights the continuous failure of achieving a particular goal.

FAQs

How can I use "eluded" in a sentence?

You can use "eluded" to describe someone or something that has escaped or avoided capture, understanding, or detection. For example, "The suspect "eluded" the police after a high-speed chase" or "The meaning of the poem "eluded" me despite repeated readings."

What can I say instead of "eluded"?

You can use alternatives like "evaded", "escaped", or "avoided" depending on the specific context. Each alternative carries a slightly different nuance.

Which is correct, "eluded" or "alluded"?

"Eluded" and "alluded" are distinct words with different meanings. "Eluded" means to escape or avoid, while "alluded" means to hint at something indirectly.

What's the difference between "eluded" and "avoided"?

While both ""eluded"" and "avoided" involve not encountering something, ""eluded"" often implies a greater degree of difficulty or cleverness in escaping, whereas "avoided" can simply mean taking a different path.