resolve

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɹɪˈzɑlv/ UK /ɹɪˈzɒlv/ See IPA manual

Freq #6726

Meanings

1

verb
To find a solution to a problem or difficulty.

After two weeks of arguing, they finally resolved their differences.
2

verb
To make a firm decision to do something.

I resolved never to drink again.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to find a solution to a... settleiron outpuzzle out

2 verb · to make a firm decision to... determine

More fortitude resolutenesssticktoitivenesstenacity

Word family

Forms resolv'dresolvedresolvesresolving

Derived forms misresolvepreresolveproresolvingreresolveresolvability resolvableresolvaseresolvendresolverself-resolvingsuperresolvetime-resolved

Simplified etymology

Resolve dates from Late Middle English and comes from the same Latin root as solve, Latin solvere “loosen, unfasten”; its root sense is “thoroughly loosen.”

Etymology

From Middle English resolven, from Old French resolver, a learned borrowing of Latin resolvō (“loosen, thaw, melt, resolve”), equivalent to re- + solve. Piecewise doublet of re-solve.

*lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European resolven Middle English resolver Old French resolvō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# resolve

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɹɪˈzɑlv/
**IPA (UK):** /ɹɪˈzɒlv/
**Frequency rank:** 6726

## Meanings
1. To find a solution to a problem or difficulty.
2. To make a firm decision to do something.

## Examples
- After two weeks of arguing, they finally resolved their differences.
- I resolved never to drink again.

## Synonyms
- fortitude
- resoluteness
- sticktoitiveness
- tenacity

## Derived Forms
- misresolve
- preresolve
- proresolving
- reresolve
- resolvability
- resolvable
- resolvase
- resolvend
- resolver
- self-resolving
- superresolve
- time-resolved

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *lewh₁-
- Root: resolven
- Root: resolver
- Root: resolvō

## Etymology
From Middle English resolven, from Old French resolver, a learned borrowing of Latin resolvō (“loosen, thaw, melt, resolve”), equivalent to re- + solve. Piecewise doublet of re-solve.

## AI Etymology
Resolve comes from Middle English resolven, from Old French resolver, a learned borrowing of Latin resolvō (“loosen, thaw, melt, resolve”), equivalent to re- + solve. Piecewise doublet of re-solve. Modern senses include to find a solution to a problem or difficulty. and to make a firm decision to do something.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as misresolve, preresolve, proresolving, reresolve, resolvability, and resolvable.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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