Allude
/əˈluːd/
verbB2
Definition
To allude is to talk about something without saying it directly. When you allude to something, you give a hint or a small reference so that people understand what you mean without explaining everything. It is often used when someone wants to be polite, secretive, or subtle.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
To mention or refer to something indirectly or briefly
- •The teacher alluded to the test results without giving exact scores.
- •In his speech, he alluded to the company’s past problems.
- •The book alludes to famous myths without naming them directly.
To suggest or hint at something without saying it openly
- •She alluded to her disappointment but didn’t say it clearly.
- •The movie alludes to real historical events through its story.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'allude' like 'talk,' but instead of speaking clearly, you speak in a quiet or hidden way, like giving a small clue.
- ✓Picture someone pointing to a picture on the wall instead of naming the person in the picture directly.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to talk about a secret but only give small hints so others can guess.
- ✓Sounds like 'a-LOOD' → imagine whispering a secret softly, giving just a little sound, not a full story.
- ✓In stories, characters often allude to past events without telling the full story to keep mystery.
- ✓NOT like 'say' (which is direct and clear), 'allude' is indirect and subtle.
- ✓NOT like 'explain' (which gives full details), 'allude' only gives a small hint or suggestion.
Try Other Words
- •Refer: to talk about something directly or indirectly (Use when you want a more neutral word for speaking about something)
- •Hint: to suggest something without saying it clearly (Use when emphasizing the indirect or secretive part)
- •Suggest: to mention something in a way that makes others think about it (Use when you want to show an idea without full explanation)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "al-" (a variation of "ad-" meaning "to") + root "lude" from Latin "ludere" meaning "to play"
- •Etymology: From Latin "alludere," meaning "to play with" or "to joke," later used as "to refer indirectly"
- •Historical development: First used in English in the early 1600s to mean indirect reference or hinting
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in writing and speech to show indirect references or subtle hints without full explanation
Reflect & Connect
•When might it be better to allude to something rather than say it directly? Can you think of examples?
•How does alluding to something change the way people understand or feel about what is being said?
Fill in the blanks
1.The speaker alluded ___ the problem without naming it directly, hoping the audience would understand.
2.When she alluded to her past, she left out many details to keep it ___.
3.Unlike a direct statement, to allude means to mention something in a ___ way.
4.The author alluded ___ famous stories to make the book more interesting.
5.People sometimes allude ___ sensitive topics to avoid making others uncomfortable.
6.In his talk, he alluded ___ the success of the project but didn’t give exact numbers.
7.To allude ___ something means to give a small hint, not the full explanation.