resolve

American  

[ri-zolv] / rɪˈzɒlv /

verb (used with object)

resolved, resolving

1. 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

2. to separate into constituent or elementary parts; break up; cause or disintegrate (usually followed byinto ).

   Synonyms:

   reduce, analyze

3. to reduce or convert by, or as by, breaking up or disintegration (usually followed by to orinto ).

4. to convert or transform by any process (often used reflexively).

5. to reduce by mental analysis (often followed byinto ).

6. to settle, determine, or state in a formal vote or formal expression of opinion or intention, as of a deliberative assembly.

7. to deal with (a question, a matter of uncertainty, etc.) conclusively; settle; solve.

   to resolve the question before the board.

8. to clear away or dispel (doubts, fears, etc.); answer.

   to resolve any doubts we may have had.

9. Chemistry. to separate (a racemic mixture) into optically active components.

10. Music. to cause (a voice part or the harmony as a whole) to progress from a dissonance to a consonance.

11. Optics. to separate and make visible the individual parts of (an image); distinguish between.

12. Medicine/Medical. to cause (swellings, inflammation, etc.) to disappear without suppuration.

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verb (used without object)

resolved, resolving

1. to come to a determination; make up one's mind; determine (often followed by on orupon ).

   to resolve on a plan of action.

2. to break up or disintegrate.

3. to be reduced or changed by breaking up or otherwise (usually followed by to orinto ).

4. Music. to progress from a dissonance to a consonance.

noun

1. a resolution or determination made, as to follow some course of action.

   Synonyms:

   decision

2. firmness of purpose or intent; determination.

resolve British  

/ rɪˈzɒlv /

verb

1. (takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to decide or determine firmly

2. to express (an opinion) formally, esp (of a public meeting) one agreed by a vote

3. to separate or cause to separate (into) (constituent parts or elements)

4. (usually reflexive) to change, alter, or appear to change or alter

   the ghost resolved itself into a tree

5. to make up the mind of; cause to decide

   the tempest resolved him to stay at home

6. to find the answer or solution to; solve

   to resolve a problem

7. to explain away or dispel

   to resolve a doubt

8. to bring to an end; conclude

   to resolve an argument

9. med to cause (a swelling or inflammation) to subside, esp without the formation of pus

10. (also intr) to follow (a dissonant note or chord) or (of a dissonant note or chord) to be followed by one producing a consonance

11. chem to separate (a racemic mixture) into its optically active constituents

12. physics

    1. to distinguish between (separate parts) of (an image) as in a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument

    2. to separate (two adjacent peaks) in a spectrum by means of a spectrometer

13. maths to split (a vector) into its components in specified directions

14. an obsolete word for dissolve

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noun

1. something determined or decided; resolution

   he had made a resolve to work all day

2. 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

• preresolve verb
• resolver noun
• unresolving adjective

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."

Example Sentences

That level of detail helped resolve a long-running anatomical debate.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

"No amount of threats or coercion will shake Taiwan's resolve to engage with the world."

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Mediation tends to produce short-term crisis abatement at the cost of long-term stability because agreements reached under third-party pressure often fail to resolve the underlying conditions responsible for conflict in the first place.

From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026

The deal values OKX at $25 billion and comes a year after the China-founded exchange agreed to pay more than half a billion dollars to resolve a federal investigation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

But any resolve she might have had about the matter disappeared as soon as they were back in Concord and their father’s word came down.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• agree
• answer
• clear up
• conclude
• decide
• determine
• fix
• iron out
• propose
• settle
• solve
• undertake
• work out