Allude and Refer | English Vocabulary

Although allude and refer are synonyms, their connotation and proper use are quite different. Allude means to mention indirectly or briefly in passing, to hint at.

Examples

• He’s often alluded to his army experiences but he’s never told me about them.
• She often alluded to her unhappy childhood.

Refer means to mention directly or in detail.

Example:

•  I refer to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, act III, scene I – “To be or not to be: that is the question.”