elude

Universal Words verb [VN] 1 to manage to avoid or escape from sb/sth, especially in a clever way: The two men managed to elude the police for six weeks. 2 if sth eludes you, you are not able to achieve it, or not able to remember or understand it: He was extremely tired but sleep eluded him. * They're a popular band but chart success has eluded them so far. * Finally he remembered the tiny detail that had eluded him the night before.