resolve

1 of 2

verb

re·​solve ri-ˈzälv How to pronounce resolve (audio)
-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
4
: to progress from dissonance to consonance
resolvable
ri-ˈzäl-və-bəl How to pronounce resolve (audio)
-ˈzȯl-
 also  -ˈzä-və-
 or  -ˈzȯ-və-
adjective
resolver noun

resolve

2 of 2

noun

1
: fixity of purpose : resoluteness
2
: something that is resolved
3
: a legal or official determination
especially : a formal resolution
Choose the Right Synonym for resolve

decide, determine, settle, rule, resolve mean to come or cause to come to a conclusion.

decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

Examples of resolve in a Sentence

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
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Our nation has never been able to resolve this tension. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Adam Cosco on Sunday moved to dismiss the case after reaching a deal to resolve the lawsuit. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 Over the following decades, numerous efforts to resolve the criminal case have gone nowhere, and efforts to extradite him have also been unsuccessful. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 Success Rate: The company’s success rate in resolving tax issues for clients was taken into account. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 The Supreme Court, however, sided with the Biden administration, saying border agents may remove the barriers as needed until their legality is resolved in court. Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 International diplomacy to resolve the conflict in Libya has focused on pushing for parliamentary and presidential elections to replace the interim political institutions, including the HoR, HSC and GNU. Reuters, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Last year the case was resolved for $12 million in what is believed to be one of the largest civil settlements ever paid by the county. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 UnitedHealth had no projection for when the problems would be fully resolved and operations would return to normal. Democrat-Gazette Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Noun
In an era of faltering global resolve on other challenges, great powers had initially struck an optimistic note in grappling with AI. Aziz Huq, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 The measure also increases state oversight of county spending on behavioral health at a time when Newsom has repeatedly questioned the resolve of local governments to fix the problem. Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 But Dickinson has a new resolve to appreciate life now. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 Despite facing setbacks, her resolve remains unshaken, reflecting a broader movement toward recognizing cannabis not just as a matter of personal freedom but as a critical issue of public health and social justice. Javier Hasse, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Even after that, her resolve to stand by him was unshaken. Clare Sebastian, CNN, 20 Feb. 2024 The Clippers’ recent stretch of games that took them from Toronto to Atlanta tested not only the team’s resolve to maintain its status among the NBA’s best teams, but also its defense. Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2024 Putin’s optimism was understandable, although not, as might have been assumed, because of wavering resolve in European capitals. Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2024 Information of the scale of acquisition of the inexpensive, relatively low technology autonomous drones the Pentagon is acquiring would arguably have a deterrent effect, signaling U.S. resolve and speaking to the commercial startup community that Replicator is seeking to leverage. Eric Tegler, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resolve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of resolve was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near resolve

Cite this Entry

“Resolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resolve. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

resolve

1 of 2 verb
re·​solve ri-ˈzälv How to pronounce resolve (audio)
-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 adjective
resolver noun

resolve

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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
-ˈzäl-və-bəl, -ˈzȯl- also -ˈzäv-ə- or -ˈzȯv-ə-
adjective

Legal Definition

resolve

1 of 2 verb
re·​solve ri-ˈzälv How to pronounce resolve (audio)
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 noun
1
: something that is resolved
2
: a legal or official determination
especially : a legislative declaration

More from Merriam-Webster on resolve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!