resolve
Americanverb (used with object)
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resolves,
present (3rd person singular)
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resolved,
past participle, past
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resolving
present participle
-
to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something).
I have resolved that I shall live to the full.
- Synonyms:
- confirm
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to separate into constituent or elementary parts; break up; cause or disintegrate (usually followed byinto ).
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to reduce or convert by, or as by, breaking up or disintegration (usually followed by to orinto ).
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to convert or transform by any process (often used reflexively).
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to reduce by mental analysis (often followed byinto ).
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to settle, determine, or state in a formal vote or formal expression of opinion or intention, as of a deliberative assembly.
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to deal with (a question, a matter of uncertainty, etc.) conclusively; settle; solve.
to resolve the question before the board.
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to clear away or dispel (doubts, fears, etc.); answer.
to resolve any doubts we may have had.
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Chemistry. to separate (a racemic mixture) into optically active components.
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Music. to cause (a voice part or the harmony as a whole) to progress from a dissonance to a consonance.
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Optics. to separate and make visible the individual parts of (an image); distinguish between.
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Medicine/Medical. to cause (swellings, inflammation, etc.) to disappear without suppuration.
verb (used without object)
-
resolves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
resolved,
past participle, past
-
resolving
present participle
-
to come to a determination; make up one's mind; determine (often followed by on orupon ).
to resolve on a plan of action.
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to break up or disintegrate.
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to be reduced or changed by breaking up or otherwise (usually followed by to orinto ).
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Music. to progress from a dissonance to a consonance.
noun
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resolves
plural
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a resolution or determination made, as to follow some course of action.
- Synonyms:
- decision
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firmness of purpose or intent; determination.
verb
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(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to decide or determine firmly
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to express (an opinion) formally, esp (of a public meeting) one agreed by a vote
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to separate or cause to separate (into) (constituent parts or elements)
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(usually reflexive) to change, alter, or appear to change or alter
the ghost resolved itself into a tree
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to make up the mind of; cause to decide
the tempest resolved him to stay at home
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to find the answer or solution to; solve
to resolve a problem
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to explain away or dispel
to resolve a doubt
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to bring to an end; conclude
to resolve an argument
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med to cause (a swelling or inflammation) to subside, esp without the formation of pus
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(also intr) to follow (a dissonant note or chord) or (of a dissonant note or chord) to be followed by one producing a consonance
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chem to separate (a racemic mixture) into its optically active constituents
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physics
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to distinguish between (separate parts) of (an image) as in a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument
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to separate (two adjacent peaks) in a spectrum by means of a spectrometer
-
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maths to split (a vector) into its components in specified directions
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an obsolete word for dissolve
noun
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something determined or decided; resolution
he had made a resolve to work all day
-
firmness of purpose; determination
nothing can break his resolve
Usage
What are other ways to say resolve?
To resolve something is to come to a definite or earnest decision about it. How is it different from decide and determine? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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resolvesimple
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resolvessimple
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have resolvedperfect
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has resolvedperfect
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am resolvingprogressive
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are resolvingprogressive
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is resolvingprogressive
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have been resolvingperfect progressive
-
has been resolvingperfect progressive
Past
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resolvedsimple
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had resolvedperfect
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was resolvingprogressive
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were resolvingprogressive
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had been resolvingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of resolve
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb resolven “to alter, loosen, temper,” from Latin resolvere “to unfasten, loosen, release,” equivalent to re- re- + solvere solve
Explanation
To resolve is to settle or make a decision about something — often formal. A college's board of directors might resolve to recruit more minority students. As a noun, resolve refers to a strong determination to do something. If you make a New Year's resolution to exercise every day, you'll need plenty of resolve to stick with your program. The verb descends from Middle English resolven "to dissolve," from Latin resolvere "to untie." In English, the obsolete sense of "to dissolve" can be seen in this line from Shakespeare: "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew."
Vocabulary lists containing resolve
Words for a New Year
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19th Amendment (1920)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
More than eight decades after the war, the surviving uranium cubes have helped resolve a longstanding historical question, revealing just how far Nazi Germany remained from achieving a critical step toward building an atomic bomb.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
"I heard, I would say, resolve from my colleagues around the world to deliver price stability," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
But the Dodgers showed resolve to begin the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The company said in July that it would commit $5.5 billion to resolve the lawsuits.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
He mused—for ten minutes he held counsel with himself: he formed his resolve, and announced it—
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
In addition to identifying a likely geographic origin for bats, the analysis also resolves several long-running disagreements about how different bat families are related.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
In many cases, asking members to correct their own data resolves the problem, LinkedIn says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Additionally, some coverage directly challenges the idea that Newsom’s ideological positioning resolves questions about electability, arguing that he remains squeezed between factions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
The document release resolves a lawsuit brought by advocacy group 9/11 Health Watch, which sued the city for the documents.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
It all resolves when the curtain comes down.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
The front lines stabilised, but the conflict has not been resolved, with drones playing a major role.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Suhail’s attorney, Adam Sheppard, said civil matters in Dubai affected Suhail’s ability to travel after the indictment and he returned voluntarily when they were resolved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
One employee ultimately reached an agreement over the payment, but the controller’s office never resolved the situation with the other employee, violating state law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
"The government hopes that all outstanding issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably and will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to that end."
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
It reminded the Friedmans of their ordeals with Fabyan, and they resolved never to get into such a situation again.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
A New York woman admitted to defrauding Wesley Edens, a co-founder of Fortress Investment Group and co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, resolving allegations that she had extorted the billionaire and swindled two other men.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Liquidia surges after reaching a $380.7 million settlement with United Therapeutics resolving patent disputes for its lung disease drug.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
The business said it had contacted Clarkson privately in hopes of resolving the disagreement.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
Talks aimed at resolving the Drumcree dispute are expected to continue, as the Orange Order's Nigel Dawson says "there are currently no proposals on the table."
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Over the next two days, Wense Grabarek recruited members for a committee assigned the task of resolving the segregation issue.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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