dissolve

American  

[dih-zolv] / dɪˈzɒlv /

verb (used with object)

• dissolves,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dissolved,
  past participle,  past
• dissolving
  present participle

1. to make a solution of, as by mixing with a liquid; pass into solution.

   to dissolve salt in water.

2. to melt; liquefy.

   to dissolve sugar into syrup.

3. to undo (a tie or bond); break up (a connection, union, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   loosen, sever

4. to break up (an assembly or organization); dismiss; disperse.

5. Government. to order the termination of (a parliament or other legislative body).

   Synonyms:

   adjourn

6. to bring to an end; terminate; destroy.

   to dissolve one's hopes.

7. to separate into parts or elements; disintegrate.

8. to destroy the binding power or influence of.

   to dissolve a spell.

9. Law. to deprive of force; abrogate; annul.

   to dissolve a marriage.

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verb (used without object)

• dissolves,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dissolved,
  past participle,  past
• dissolving
  present participle

1. to become dissolved, as in a solvent.

2. to become melted or liquefied.

3. to disintegrate, break up, or disperse.

4. to lose force, intensity, or strength.

5. to disappear gradually; fade away.

6. to break down emotionally; lose one's composure.

   The poor child dissolved in tears.

7. Movies, Television. to fade out one shot or scene while simultaneously fading in the next, overlapping the two during the process.

noun

1. Also called lap dissolve,.  Also called cross-dissolve.  Movies, Television. a transition from one scene to the next made by dissolving.

dissolve British  

/ dɪˈzɒlv /

verb

1. to go or cause to go into solution

   salt dissolves in water

   water dissolves sugar

2. to become or cause to become liquid; melt

3. to disintegrate or disperse

4. to come or bring to an end

5. to dismiss (a meeting, parliament, etc) or (of a meeting, etc) to be dismissed

6. to collapse or cause to collapse emotionally

   to dissolve into tears

7. to lose or cause to lose distinctness or clarity

8. (tr) to terminate legally, as a marriage, etc

9. (intr) films television to fade out one scene and replace with another to make two scenes merge imperceptibly ( fast dissolve ) or slowly overlap ( slow dissolve ) over a period of about three or four seconds

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noun

1. films television a scene filmed or televised by dissolving

dissolve Scientific  

/ dĭ-zŏlv′ /

1. To pass or cause to pass into solution.

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Synonym Usage

See melt ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dissolvability
  noun
• dissolvableness
  noun
• dissolver
  noun
• redissolve
  verb
• predissolve
  verb (used with object)
• dissolvable
  adjective
• nondissolving
  adjective
• self-dissolved
  adjective
• undissolvable
  adjective
• undissolved
  adjective
• undissolving
  adjective
• dissolvingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• dissolving
  present
• dissolved
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• dissolve
  simple
• dissolves
  simple
• have dissolved
  perfect
• has dissolved
  perfect
• am dissolving
  progressive
• are dissolving
  progressive
• is dissolving
  progressive
• have been dissolving
  perfect progressive
• has been dissolving
  perfect progressive

Past

• dissolved
  simple
• had dissolved
  perfect
• was dissolving
  progressive
• were dissolving
  progressive
• had been dissolving
  perfect progressive

Future

• will dissolve
  simple
• will have dissolved
  perfect
• will be dissolving
  progressive
• will have been dissolving
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of dissolve

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dissolvere “to unloose”; equivalent to dis- ¹ + solve

Explanation

To dissolve something is to break it up or weaken it, making it no longer recognizable. You could dissolve your book club or you could even dissolve a pill by dropping it into a glass of water. You can use the verb dissolve to describe things that are coming apart or diminishing. Dissolve goes back to the Latin root dissolvere, meaning "to loosen," and it came into English in the 14th century. Physical objects dissolve, as when bubbles dissolve in the tub or a cube of sugar will dissolve in hot tea, and intangible, or non-physical, things can fade away too: "Their friendship started to dissolve when he moved across country and they communicated less frequently."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dissolve dissolves dissolved dissolving

He chose a type of filler - hyaluronic acid - that is temporary so he knew that even if he hated the look it would "eventually just dissolve".

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

It was a tactical maneuver meant to ensure no single tech titan could simply write a billion-dollar check to dissolve their private paradise, but it didn’t pass, these members said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

He put one on the inside edge of the plate to Milwaukee’s Garrett Mitchell, who lined it into right field to dissolve the Dodgers’ lead in the ninth inning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

He and Chavez, his prime minister at the time, faced charges of plotting a coup over the bid to dissolve Congress.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

I could almost imagine each new stick and stump it swallowed forcing the denner resin deeper into its gizzard, mixing it around, breaking it up, forcing it to dissolve.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Instead, the Royal Mint uses a process that dissolves the gold at room temperature.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

The emotional intensity of the moment dissolves, the wounds heal, and time marches onward.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

The seasoning packet dissolves into the tomato juices and olive oil, becoming something halfway between vinaigrette, tomato dressing and the world’s easiest no-cook sauce.

From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026

Because the material dissolves in water, researchers say it may someday circulate through rooftop solar collectors during the day before being stored in tanks that release heat at night.

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026

She pulls up a chair and dissolves into it.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

The option of real neutrality dissolved with the failure of the Maginot Line, France’s string of defensive installations along its border with Germany.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Last May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests, which former Prime Minister Moussa Mara described as a severe blow to reconciliation efforts initiated by the military leaders.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

The researchers wanted to determine how effectively bacteria could reduce the amount of uranium dissolved in water and identify the chemical forms created as the microbes processed the uranium.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

“If Flores is dissolved, it’s not going to be easy to stand up this same set of programs.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Then he stepped aside, and the black-and-white mass dissolved into fifteen individual players who came quickly onto the field.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

One critic observed that Ray Bradbury writes about “dreams turning out true, truth dissolving into dreams.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

The Backrooms takes this to the extreme - a physical symbol of memories "dissolving into themselves".

From BBC ● May 29, 2026

Elon Musk is dissolving xAI, integrating its AI operations into SpaceX ahead of an IPO expected to value the company at up to $2 trillion.

From Barron's ● May 7, 2026

The band released three albums before dissolving in 2001.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

Aunty Ifeoma was at the dining table when I came out, dissolving a few spoonfuls of dried milk in a jug of cold water.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• adjourn
• break up
• cancel
• collapse
• demolish
• destroy
• discharge
• dismiss
• overthrow
• postpone
• repeal
• separate
• sever
• suspend
• terminate
• vacate