solve
verb OPAL W
/sɒlv/
/sɑːlv/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they solve | /sɒlv/ /sɑːlv/ |
| he / she / it solves | /sɒlvz/ /sɑːlvz/ |
| past simple solved | /sɒlvd/ /sɑːlvd/ |
| past participle solved | /sɒlvd/ /sɑːlvd/ |
| -ing form solving | /ˈsɒlvɪŋ/ /ˈsɑːlvɪŋ/ |
- solve something to find a way of dealing with a problem or difficult situation
- Attempts are being made to solve the problem of waste disposal.
- to solve an issue/a crisis
- You can't solve anything by just running away.
- I hope that he can find a good way to solve these problems.
Extra Examples- Being with peers and friends does not necessarily solve this feeling of loneliness.
- The problem cannot be solved with spending cuts alone.
- We hope the difficulty can be solved by getting the two sides together to discuss the issues.
- We need to focus on solving the country's problem.
- a plan designed to solve the housing problem
- research aimed at solving the growing problem of child obesity
- The Board met several times last week to try to solve the firm's financial crisis.
- Unemployment will not be solved by offering low-paid jobs in call centres.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- completely
- largely
- half
- …
- attempt to
- try to
- help (to)
- …
- by
- with
- an attempt to solve something
- be aimed at solving something
- be good at solving something
- …
- solve something to find the correct answer or explanation for something
- to solve an equation/a puzzle
- to solve a crime/mystery
- to solve a riddle/conundrum
- The police have appealed for help in solving the case.
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmenta2, Maths and measurementa2- We were given clues to help us solve the puzzle.
- This question has never been satisfactorily solved.
- The mystery has not yet been completely solved.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- completely
- largely
- half
- …
- attempt to
- try to
- help (to)
- …
- by
- with
- an attempt to solve something
- be aimed at solving something
- be good at solving something
- …
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘loosen, dissolve, untie’): from Latin solvere ‘loosen, unfasten’.