resolve

/rɪˈzɑːlv/ neutral to formal

Say it: ri-ZOLV

1. verb To find a solution to a problem, conflict, or contentious matter.
The management team met to resolve the dispute between the two departments.
2. verb To decide firmly on a course of action.
After months of consideration, he resolved to quit his job and travel the world.
3. noun Firm determination to do something.
She faced the difficult challenge with courage and resolve.
4. verb To separate or cause to be separated into distinct components, often in chemistry or optics.
The new telescope is powerful enough to resolve the two stars into separate points of light.

📖 Seen in the wild

The two nations worked tirelessly to resolve their long-standing border dispute.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ resolve in a sentence

The UN is working to resolve the international crisis peacefully.
Despite the setback, her resolve to finish the marathon never wavered.
We need to resolve this issue before it affects team morale.
He resolved that this year, he would finally learn to play the guitar.
The committee was formed to resolve complaints from customers.
It took a skilled mediator to help the couple resolve their differences.
The question of the missing funds was never fully resolved.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

settle solve determine determination decide fix clear up willpower

settle · implies reaching a final agreement or compromise, often in a dispute.

solve · suggests finding the correct answer to a puzzle or problem with a clear solution.

determine · as a verb, implies making a firm decision after careful thought or investigation.

determination · as a noun, is a very close synonym for 'resolve' but is more common.

Opposites: waver, hesitate, complicate, exacerbate, vacillate

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'resolve' comes from the Latin 'resolvere', meaning 'to loosen, untie, or release'. This idea of untying a knot evolved metaphorically to mean solving a complex problem. The sense of making a firm decision developed from the idea of clearing up one's own internal doubts.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

resolve a conflictresolve a disputeresolve an issueresolve to do somethingfirm resolvestrengthen one's resolve

While 'resolve' can mean 'to solve', it carries a weightier, more formal tone. You resolve a conflict or a crisis, but you solve a math problem. When used as a noun, 'resolve' refers to an inner quality of determination, which is less common than its verb form. The noun 'resolution' is more frequently used for the outcome of resolving something or for a formal decision, like a New Year's resolution.

Word family: resolution, resolved, unresolved, resolvable

💬 Quick answers

What does 'resolve' mean?

It most often means to find a solution to a problem or to make a firm decision. As a noun, 'resolve' means strong determination.

What's the difference between 'resolve' and 'solve'?

'Solve' typically applies to problems with a definite answer, like a math problem or a mystery. 'Resolve' is used for more complex issues, like disputes or conflicts, that may not have a single correct solution but require agreement or a firm decision.

Is 'resolve' a formal word?

Yes, 'resolve' is considered more formal than everyday alternatives like 'fix' or 'sort out'. It is well-suited for professional, academic, and other serious contexts.

What is the noun for the verb 'resolve'?

The most common noun is 'resolution'. However, 'resolve' itself can also be used as a noun to mean 'determination'.

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