resolve
1 of 2verb
re·solve ri-ˈzälv 
-ˈzȯlv,
also -ˈzäv,
or -ˈzȯv
resolved; resolving
transitive verb
1
a
: to deal with successfully : clear up
resolve doubts
resolve a dispute
b
: to find an answer to
c
: to make clear or understandable
d
: to find a mathematical solution of
e
: to split up into two or more components especially in assigned directions
resolve a vector
2
: to reach a firm decision about
resolve to get more sleep
resolve disputed points in a text
3
a
: to declare or decide by a formal resolution and vote
b
: to change by resolution or formal vote
the house resolved itself into a committee
4
a
: break up, separate
the prism resolved the light into a play of color
also : to change by disintegration
b
: to reduce by analysis
resolve the problem into simple elements
c
: to distinguish between or make independently visible adjacent parts of
d
: to separate (a racemic compound or mixture) into the two components
5
: to make (something, such as one or more voice parts or the total musical harmony) progress from dissonance to consonance
6
: to work out the resolution of (something, such as a play)
7
: to cause resolution of (a pathological state)
8
obsolete : dissolve, melt
intransitive verb
1
: to become separated into component parts
also : to become reduced by dissolving or analysis
2
: to form a resolution : determine
3
: consult, deliberate
4
: to progress from dissonance to consonance
resolvable
ri-ˈzäl-və-bəl
adjective -ˈzȯl-
also -ˈzä-və-
or -ˈzȯ-və-
resolver noun
resolve
2 of 2noun
1
: fixity of purpose : resoluteness
2
: something that is resolved
3
: a legal or official determination
especially : a formal resolution
Synonyms
Verb
- choose
- conclude
- decide
- determine
- figure
- name
- opt
- settle (on or upon)
Noun
- decidedness
- decision
- decisiveness
- determination
- determinedness
- firmness
- granite
- purposefulness
- resoluteness
- resolution
- stick-to-itiveness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The brothers finally resolved their conflict. The issue of the book's authorship was never resolved. His speech did nothing to resolve doubts about the company's future. They haven't been able to resolve their differences. She resolved to quit smoking. He resolved that he would start dating again. The committee resolved to override the veto. Noun His comments were intended to weaken her resolve but they only served to strengthen it. a naval pilot who has been unwavering in his resolve to become an astronaut See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023 The unsettled state of the law means courts may not be the best tool to resolve custody issues involving breastfeeding. —Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023 But it’s in the public interest to resolve these cases before voters begin choosing the candidates for the 2024 presidential election. —Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2023 Companies for decades have searched for automated solutions that can resolve customer requests as well as humans, or even better. —Katie Deighton, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2023 The big banks have a major dilemma to resolve: Their cards are already included in ApplePay and some of the other digital wallets. —Ron Shevlin, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2023 The persistent avalanche problem in the snowpack will take a long time to resolve, Wagner said. —Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Jan. 2023 What’s been worse: Discovering this isn’t a one-time interruption that might resolve quickly—with luck, while your child could still benefit. —WIRED, 11 Jan. 2023 Being landlocked, the new states had no maritime issues to resolve. —Kieran Williams, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2023 Gideon Lewis-kraus, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2023 Now is not the time for the West to soften its resolve in the fight against Putin but to step it up. —Time, 7 Oct. 2022 But this team sees its sturdy resolve as one of its biggest strengths. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2022 The Taiwanese Defense Ministry repeated its resolve to avoid escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait. —Rhoda Kwan, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2022 As the sit-in campaign grew, the movement found its resolve. —Lucia Cheng, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 To underscore its resolve, Russian forces on Friday aimed a punishing new barrage at areas in the country’s north, east and south, including bombardment of a final Ukrainian redoubt in the shattered southern port of Mariupol. —Laura King And Tracy Wilkinson, Anchorage Daily News, 13 May 2022 The Kremlin believes its resolve outstrips that of the U.S. —Seth Cropsey, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2022 To show its resolve to end its shortage in technology talent, the Mexican government opened 120 tuition-free specialist technology universities between 2006 and 2012. —Steve Taplin, Forbes, 13 Apr. 2022 See More
Verb
The company has 14 days to resolve the warehouse violations or face a fine of $46,875, OSHA said. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023 The unsettled state of the law means courts may not be the best tool to resolve custody issues involving breastfeeding. —Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023 But it’s in the public interest to resolve these cases before voters begin choosing the candidates for the 2024 presidential election. —Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2023 Companies for decades have searched for automated solutions that can resolve customer requests as well as humans, or even better. —Katie Deighton, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2023 The big banks have a major dilemma to resolve: Their cards are already included in ApplePay and some of the other digital wallets. —Ron Shevlin, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2023 The persistent avalanche problem in the snowpack will take a long time to resolve, Wagner said. —Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Jan. 2023 What’s been worse: Discovering this isn’t a one-time interruption that might resolve quickly—with luck, while your child could still benefit. —WIRED, 11 Jan. 2023 Being landlocked, the new states had no maritime issues to resolve. —Kieran Williams, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2023 Noun
Her official remit was fuzzy and open-ended, but the company had at one point emphasized its resolve to find use cases for its chips in vehicles. —Gideon Lewis-kraus, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2023 Now is not the time for the West to soften its resolve in the fight against Putin but to step it up. —Time, 7 Oct. 2022 But this team sees its sturdy resolve as one of its biggest strengths. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2022 The Taiwanese Defense Ministry repeated its resolve to avoid escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait. —Rhoda Kwan, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2022 As the sit-in campaign grew, the movement found its resolve. —Lucia Cheng, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 To underscore its resolve, Russian forces on Friday aimed a punishing new barrage at areas in the country’s north, east and south, including bombardment of a final Ukrainian redoubt in the shattered southern port of Mariupol. —Laura King And Tracy Wilkinson, Anchorage Daily News, 13 May 2022 The Kremlin believes its resolve outstrips that of the U.S. —Seth Cropsey, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2022 To show its resolve to end its shortage in technology talent, the Mexican government opened 120 tuition-free specialist technology universities between 2006 and 2012. —Steve Taplin, Forbes, 13 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Latin resolvere to unloose, dissolve, from re- + solvere to loosen, release — more at solve
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 8
Noun
1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing resolve
Kids Definition
resolve
1 of 2 verb re·solve ri-ˈzälv
-ˈzȯlv
resolved; resolving
1
: to break up or separate into individual parts
2
a
: to clear up : dispel
resolve doubts
b
: to find an answer or solution to
3
: to reach a decision about : decide
resolve to study harder
4
: to declare or decide by a formal resolution and vote
resolvable
-ˈzäl-və-bəl
adjective -ˈzȯl-
resolver noun
resolve
2 of 2 noun1
: something resolved : resolution
2
: firmness of purpose
Medical Definition
resolve
verb re·solve
ri-ˈzälv, -ˈzȯlv also -ˈzäv or -ˈzȯv
resolved; resolving
transitive verb
1
: to separate (a racemic compound or mixture) into the two components
2
: to cause resolution of (as inflammation)
3
: to distinguish between or make independently visible adjacent parts of
intransitive verb
1
: to become separated into component parts
also : to become reduced by dissolving or analysis
2
: to undergo resolution —used especially of disease or inflammation
resolvable adjective
-ˈzäl-və-bəl, -ˈzȯl- also -ˈzäv-ə- or -ˈzȯv-ə-
Legal Definition
resolve
1 of 2 verb re·solve ri-ˈzälv
resolved; resolving
transitive verb
1
: to deal with successfully : clear up
resolve a dispute
2
a
: to declare or decide by formal resolution and vote
b
: to change by resolution or formal vote
the house resolved itself into a committee
intransitive verb
: to form a resolution
resolve
2 of 2 noun1
: something that is resolved
2
: a legal or official determination
especially : a legislative declaration
resolve 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to figure
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration I resolved to eat more healthily and to exercise regularly Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- figure
- decide
- choose
- opt
- determine
- find
- conclude
- settle (on or upon)
- adjudicate
- arbitrate
- rule
- select
- name
- elect
- pick
- decree
- prefer
- cull
- adjudge
- ponder
- contemplate
- debate
- ruminate
- deliberate
- weigh
- meditate
- referee
- entertain
- study
- judge
- chew over
- question
- consider
- umpire
- cogitate
- handpick
- mull (over)
- rule (on)
- single (out)
- think (about or over)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- refuse
- reject
- abstain
- turn down
- decline
- hesitate
- temporize
- delay
- halt
- stall
- waver
- vacillate
- waffle
- shilly-shally
2
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning resolve the apparent contradictions in the collected data Synonyms & Similar Words
- solve
- unravel
- answer
- work
- figure out
- decipher
- work out
- crack
- decide
- unriddle
- conclude
- deduce
- break
- reason
- gather
- judge
- riddle (out)
- puzzle (out)
- infer
- dope (out)
- iron out
- guess
- presume
- untangle
- untie
- speculate
- unscramble
- divine
- assume
- decode
- conjecture
- straighten (out)
- clear (up)
3
as in to divide
to set or force apart a prism will resolve a beam of light into an array of colors Synonyms & Similar Words
- divide
- separate
- disconnect
- split
- sever
- isolate
- disassociate
- dissociate
- divorce
- ramify
- part
- disjoin
- pull
- detach
- dissect
- dissolve
- decouple
- break up
- disunite
- dissever
- sunder
- decompose
- unlink
- uncouple
- subdivide
- unravel
- disintegrate
- disjoint
- unyoke
- cleave
- disassemble
- bifurcate
- partition
- fragment
- bisect
- break down
- rip
- halve
- segregate
- break
- fracture
- rend
- rift
- tear
- fractionate
- fragmentate
- rupture
- disengage
- fragmentize
- dichotomize
- fractionalize
- quarter
- cut off
- disentangle
- segment
- trisect
- insulate
- rive
- untie
- seclude
- sequester
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- join
- unite
- unify
- combine
- link
- connect
- assemble
- mix
- blend
- associate
- couple
- bind
- accumulate
- close
- attach
- stick
- mingle
- fuse
- knit
- fasten
- weld
- cement
- agglutinate
resolve
2 of 2noun
as in determination
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose a naval pilot who has been unwavering in his resolve to become an astronaut Synonyms & Similar Words
- determination
- decision
- decisiveness
- resolution
- persistence
- resoluteness
- persistency
- readiness
- purposefulness
- firmness
- determinedness
- decidedness
- confidence
- granite
- perseverance
- certainty
- tenacity
- stick-to-itiveness
- stubbornness
- doggedness
- tenaciousness
- fortitude
- obstinacy
- obduracy
- eagerness
- obstinateness
- certitude
- gameness
- grit
- alacrity
- pluck
- iron
- obdurateness
- backbone
- sand
- sureness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hesitation
- indecision
- irresolution
- vacillation
- doubt
- uncertainty
- indecisiveness
- unwillingness
- reluctance
- disinclination
- incertitude
- irresoluteness
- indetermination
- aversion
- indisposition
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of resolve are decide, determine, rule, and settle. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.
he resolved to quit smoking
In some situations, the words decide and resolve are roughly equivalent. However, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.
she decided to sell her house
Although the words determine and resolve have much in common, determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.
determined the cause of the problem
The words rule and resolve can be used in similar contexts, but rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.
the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible
While the synonyms settle and resolve are close in meaning, settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.
the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy