Allude vs. elude vs. illude

What does allude mean?

Allude is a verb which means to hint at something indirectly.

For example:

·      This painting alludes to the painter’s tragic past.

What does elude mean?

Elude is a verb which means to escape or avoid, or to fail to be attained by someone.

For example:

·      No matter how hard she tried, sleep eluded her.

·      He eluded security by climbing onto the roof.

What does illude mean?

Illude is a verb which means to trick or delude.

For example:

·      Don’t let your imagination illude you.

What’s the difference between allude, elude and illude?

Allude means to hint at something indirectly while elude means to escape or avoid. Illude, on the other hand, means to trick or delude.

For example:

·      The security guard thought his imagination illuded him but the criminal had eluded him by escaping through the front door of the museum, which alludes to the security guard’s ability to do his job.