# allude

/əˈɫud/ (US) · /ɐlˈuːd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/allude
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

to mention something indirectly or to hint at it without saying it clearly. You use this when you want to talk about a topic without being direct.

For teachers: to make an indirect or passing reference to something. Often used to hint at a sensitive or well-known subject without explicit mention.

## Examples

- The author alludes to the king's secret in the first chapter.
- The witness refused to answer the question directly but alluded to a conversation he had with the manager.
- While the poet never names the specific historical event, he alludes to its impact through the imagery of a city in ruins and a silenced crowd.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.