To allude to something means to mention it indirectly or hint at it without stating it explicitly. When you allude to something, you reference it in a way that requires your listener or reader to make the connection themselves.

In conversation, you might allude to a friend's embarrassing moment by mentioning “that incident at the pool last summer” without describing what actually happened. An author might allude to a famous myth or historical event by including details that echo it, trusting readers to recognize the parallel. When a teacher says “some people in this class need to remember their homework,” she's alluding to specific students without naming them directly.

The related noun is allusion. Writers and speakers use allusions to add layers of meaning to their words, connecting their ideas to stories, events, or concepts their audience already knows.

Alluding is different from stating something clearly. If you say “my sister is as brave as a lion,” that's a direct comparison. But if you say “my sister would have walked right into that lion's den,” you're alluding to the biblical story of Daniel in the lions' den without naming it outright.