remained elusive

USAGE SUMMARY

"remained elusive" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that has not been able to be found, obtained, or understood. For example: "The answer to the mystery remained elusive until the final page of the book."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet victory remained elusive.

The New York Times - Sports

Their subject remained elusive.

The New York Times - Books

She remained elusive.

The New York Times

But confidence remained elusive.

The New York Times

Job growth has remained elusive.

The New York Times

But profitability has remained elusive.

The New York Times - Tech

Even so, growth remained elusive.

The Economist

Alas, the cure remained elusive.

The New York Times - Sports

But major success remained elusive.

The Guardian - Music

But a political solution has remained elusive.

The New Yorker

But the original church remained elusive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "remained elusive", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specifically has been difficult to find, achieve, or understand. Provide specific details to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "remained elusive" when something was never pursued or sought in the first place. The phrase implies an active attempt that failed to yield results. If there was no attempt, use "was unknown" or "was undiscovered" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remained elusive" functions as a predicate adjective following a linking verb (remained). It describes the state of something being difficult to find, catch, understand, or achieve. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a valid phrase in English, used to indicate that something has not been successfully attained.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "remained elusive" is a commonly used and grammatically sound way to describe something that has been difficult to find, achieve, or understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is valid across a variety of contexts, with frequent appearances in news and scientific publications. The phrase conveys a sense of persistent difficulty, indicating that something has resisted attempts at discovery or attainment. While alternatives like "stayed out of reach" or "continued to evade" exist, "remained elusive" offers a concise and widely accepted way to express the ongoing challenge of grasping or obtaining something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stayed out of reach

This alternative emphasizes the continued inability to attain or contact something.

continued to evade

This suggests that something actively avoids being found or understood.

proved unattainable

Highlights the ultimate inability to achieve something despite efforts.

resisted discovery

Implies that something inherently avoids being uncovered or revealed.

persisted in obscurity

Focuses on the sustained lack of clarity or understanding surrounding something.

avoided detection

Indicates that something successfully prevented being noticed or found.

remained hidden

Highlights that something was not revealed or brought into view.

defied comprehension

Emphasizes the inability to understand something, often due to complexity.

escaped understanding

Shows that comprehension was not possible, often in a specific instance.

remained a mystery

Emphasizes the unknown and unexplained nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "remained elusive" in a sentence?

You can use "remained elusive" to describe something that has not been found, achieved, or understood, as in "The solution to the problem "remained elusive" despite numerous attempts".

What are some alternatives to "remained elusive"?

Alternatives to "remained elusive" include phrases like "stayed out of reach", "continued to evade", or "proved unattainable" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "stayed elusive" instead of "remained elusive"?

Yes, "stay elusive" is a grammatically correct alternative to "remained elusive", although the latter is generally more common in formal writing.

What does "remained elusive" typically describe?

"Remained elusive" typically describes abstract concepts such as solutions, cures, or understanding, but it can also refer to physical objects or people that are difficult to find or capture. For example: "The killer "remained elusive" for years".