resolve

resolve — verb

1. to find a successful way of dealing with a problem, disagreement, or difficult s

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to find a successful way of dealing with a problem, disagreement, or difficult situation so that it no longer causes trouble

Example

After months of talks, the two countries finally resolved their border dispute.

resolve a dispute / a conflict / a problem

Eli resolved his disagreement with the landlord by offering to pay the rent early.

resolve + by + gerund phrase

Common collocations
  • resolve a dispute
  • resolve a conflict
  • resolve an issue
  • resolve a crisis
  • resolve a problem
  • resolve differences
  • resolve a disagreement
Synonyms
  • settle

    more final and legal — settle a lawsuit, settle a debt

  • sort out

    informal; used in everyday British English for minor problems

  • straighten out

    informal; implies untangling confusion or a mess

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

resolve + something (problem/dispute/conflict/question)

resolve + wh-clause

Usage Note

Takes a problem, dispute, or difficulty as an object. Common collocations include resolve a conflict, resolve a dispute, resolve an issue, and resolve a crisis.

Common Mistakes

The detective resolved the murder case.
The detective solved the murder case.
'Solve' is used for puzzles, mysteries, and mathematical problems; 'resolve' is for disagreements, conflicts, and complex situations that need a peaceful or practical end.

2. to decide firmly that you will do something, especially after giving it serious

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to decide firmly that you will do something, especially after giving it serious thought

Example

After seeing the documentary, Anya resolved to reduce her plastic waste.

resolve + to-infinitive (personal commitment)

The board resolved that the company would invest in renewable energy.

resolve + that-clause (formal decision)

Common collocations
  • resolve to do something
  • resolve that...
  • firmly resolved
Synonyms
  • determine

    slightly more formal; often used in writing ('determine to do')

  • make up one's mind

    less formal, used in everyday conversation

  • decide

    more general; 'resolve' implies stronger commitment

Antonyms
  • hesitate

    to pause before deciding

  • waver

    to be uncertain about a decision

Grammar Patterns

resolve + to-infinitive

resolve + that-clause

Usage Note

Often followed by a to-infinitive clause for personal commitments ('resolve to do'), or a that-clause for group decisions. When used of a group or institution, it suggests a formal vote or resolution. This sense is distinct from verb sense 1 (SOLVE), where the object is a problem — here the object is a future action or decision.

Common Mistakes

I resolved going to the gym every day.
I resolved to go to the gym every day.
'Resolve' is followed by a to-infinitive, not a gerund.
We resolved the problem to hire more staff.
We resolved to hire more staff.
If you mean a firm decision, use resolve + to-infinitive. If you mean 'solved a problem,' use verb sense 1.

3. when a note or chord in music moves from a tense, unstable sound to a stable, pl

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

when a note or chord in music moves from a tense, unstable sound to a stable, pleasing one, creating a sense of rest or completion

Example

The final chord resolves beautifully, giving the piece a sense of completion.

music: chord resolves to tonic / into harmony

In classical music, the leading tone often resolves to the tonic note.

resolve to [a musical note]

Common collocations
  • resolve to the tonic
  • resolve into harmony
  • dissonant chord resolves
Synonyms
  • come to rest

    descriptive, not technical; used in informal music teaching

  • conclude

    broader; can apply to musical phrases as well

Grammar Patterns

chord resolves

note resolves to [tonic]

resolve a chord

Usage Note

Primarily used in discussions of music theory and composition. Can be transitive ('resolve a chord') or intransitive ('the chord resolves'). The opposite is 'dissonance.'

Phrasal verbs

resolve into

phrasal verb

To separate or change something into its simpler parts or elements.

The prism resolved the white light into a rainbow of colors.

Can you resolve this mixture into its basic components?

resolve — noun

Word family

  • resolution
    nounB2
  • resolute
    adjectiveC1
  • resolved
    adjectiveB2
  • resolvable
    adjectiveC2
  • irresolute
    adjectiveC2
  • irresolution
    nounC2
  • resolutely
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These verbs all mean to deal with a problem, but they differ in what kind of problem they take. 'Resolve' is used for disagreements, conflicts, and complex situations that require negotiation or careful thought — you resolve a dispute, a crisis, or a misunderstanding. 'Solve' is for puzzles, mysteries, and mathematical problems that have a clear answer — you solve a riddle, a crime case, or an equation. 'Settle' implies finality and often involves money or legal agreements — you settle a lawsuit, a debt, or an argument. 'Fix' is the most informal and works for concrete, practical problems — you fix a leaky pipe, a broken phone, or a scheduling error. 'Work out' is an informal phrasal verb that suggests finding a solution through effort or discussion — you work out a plan, a compromise, or the logistics of an event. For example: 'The mediator resolved the conflict between the neighbours,' but 'She solved the crossword in ten minutes.'

resolve ↗solve ↗settle ↗fix ↗work out ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • resolve a situation
  • help resolve something
  • try to resolve something

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'resolve' comes from Latin 'resolvere', meaning 'to untie, loosen, or release'. It was formed from 're-' (back, again) and 'solvere' (to loosen). In Latin, 'resolvere' could mean both 'to untie' and 'to solve a problem' — the same metaphor of untying a knot appears in English for both 'solve' and 'resolve.' The word entered English through Old French 'resoudre' in the 1300s. The noun sense of 'firm determination' developed in the 1500s, based on the idea of a mind that has 'untied' its doubts and reached a firm conclusion.