What does allude mean?
Word: Allude
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Allude means to mention something without speaking of it directly, often by giving a hint.
Synonyms: hint
How do you spell allude?
Syllables: al - lude
Tricky part: The double l comes straight after the a. Do not mix this word up with elude, which looks close but means something else.
Watch out for: alude, ellude
Memory tip: To allude is to say less than all, yet the word opens with those very three letters.
Allude in a sentence
Example 1: The letter did not allude to the cancelled trip at all.
Example 2: Poets often allude to the seasons when they write about growing up.
Example 3: Did the speaker allude to our project, or did I imagine it?
Fun Fact
It goes back to a Latin verb meaning to play with or to joke, which is why a sly mention can feel like a small game between speaker and listener.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word allude as used in the sentence:
In her speech the principal seemed to allude to the team's recent win.
a) object
b) listen
c) belong
d) refer
Show answer
d) refer. Both words mean to mention something, and both are followed by to.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Speakers often dulael to famous lines from old plays without naming them.
a) attend
b) appeal
c) allude
d) adhere
Show answer
c) allude. Adhere has an h, attend a t and an n, and appeal a p, none of which are in the jumble.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
all_d_
a) u, a
b) u, e
c) e, e
d) i, e
Show answer
b) u, e. The middle has the long sound of rude, and the word closes with a silent e.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. sugest 2. apollogise 3. allude 4. exagerate
a) to put forward an idea
b) to make something sound bigger than it is
c) to touch on a subject in a roundabout way
d) to say that you are sorry
Show answer
c) to touch on a subject in a roundabout way. Suggest and exaggerate have each lost a g and apologise has gained an l, so allude is right.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Asked about the missing sweets, Meena smiled and said, 'Someone was hungry last night.' She alluded to ____.
a) a person she did not name
b) a shop she liked
c) a meal she had missed
d) a recipe she had found
Show answer
a) a person she did not name
2. Which phrase would a person most likely use when alluding to someone?
a) the full name and address
b) the page and line number
c) the exact date and the time
d) a certain someone in this room
Show answer
d) a certain someone in this room
