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, 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

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Etymology

Origin of dissolve

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

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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

Almost every brand can also be found as a flavoured powder to dissolve in hot water, typically costing slightly more per dose than pills or tablets.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

Earlier this year Greg Dalli co-founded the company Afterglow Science, which manufactures strips with peptides and other supplements that dissolve in the mouth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026

But as the vestiges of normal life crumbled around him, he allowed its boundaries to dissolve and found a way to survive, physically and mentally, in a parallel world of his own creation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Political ethicist Dennis Thompson called this the problem of many hands: When many officials each contribute a small part to a collective outcome, responsibility seems to dissolve until no one bears it.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

Roman zombies began to dissolve, smoke coming off their bronze helmets.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

A Los Angeles judge dissolves the restraining order against Halle Berry, weeks after her ex-husband Olivier Martinez accused the actor of physically abusing their teenage son.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

The budget, as big as it is, is only one item on the executive's to-do list before the assembly dissolves in March ahead of the election.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

Their meat is regularly likened to snowflakes, in part because of the intricate patterns in its fat marbling, but also for the way that it dissolves in your mouth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

Also snow can be pink if red dirt dissolves in water that evaporates and— Dad squeezes my shoulder.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine

Though the hotel’s owners eventually got the city permissions they needed, Attias said, a partnership with other hoteliers dissolved and the Clark went to the back burner again, as did the Embassy Auditorium.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Once they got around to talking, Sepinwall’s doubts dissolved.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

A hospital monitor’s flat-line drone dissolved into an orchestral beginning, suggesting a return to life; hand-drum rhythms injected Mexican flavor, while bells and mallet instruments supplied some otherworldly touches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

It was dissolved and removed from the register of charities in 2024.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

It reminded me of the way the Cocoon had dissolved in water, like it had never even been there.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

The classic paths to Hollywood are dissolving in real time, driven by media consolidation, advancements in AI and a fundamental shift in the younger generation’s attention toward vertical, creator-led, short-form content.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

The point is to let those deeply savory ingredients spend some time in the heat rather than simply dissolving them into broth at the end.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

PCE is a synthetic, colorless liquid that is especially effective at dissolving grease.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026

In December, employees at the couple’s Archewell Foundation were told the nonprofit was dissolving.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The light spiraled around her, dragging her farther and farther from her own body, until she could feel the edges of her consciousness beginning to unravel, dissolving into the endless sea of light.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

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Related Words

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

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