resolve

/ɹɪˈzɒlv/

//ɹɪˈzɒlv// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"resolve" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“resolve” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #5,449. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#5,449
frequency rank, English
3,094
“R” headwords
10
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To find a solution to (a problem).

Corpus desk

Index EN-resolve · resolve · English

resolve · rank #5,449 · 10 variants · 8 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #5,449
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 8 pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,094
  • PHOTO-FINISH reminded

Nearest frequency peer: reminded (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “resolve”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “resolve” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

resolve vs revolve
86% similar
resolve vs resolved
88% similar
resolve vs revolver
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for resolve
PropertyValue
Headwordresolve
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈzɒlv/
Letters7
Frequency rank#5,449
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “resolve”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).resolvelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “reminded” (#5,448), “revolutionary” (#5,450), “reflection” (#5,447). Among 3,094 “R” headwords, “resolve” is #5,449. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around resolve (IPA /ɹɪˈzɒlv/), averb. Corpus frequency is #5,449 among 3,094 “R” headwords. Wiktionary lists 17 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for resolve, with forms such as "ersolve", "reoslve", and "reslove". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 8 confusable-pair relationships, "revolve", "resolved", "revolver", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: 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. The correct English form is resolve, spelled R-E-S-O-L-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To find a solution to (a problem).
  2. 2
    To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; to make clear or certain; to unravel; to explain.
  3. 3
    To make a firm decision to do something. To become determined to reach a certain goal or take a certain action.
  4. 4
    To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind; to fix; to settle.
  5. 5
    To come to an agreement or make peace; patch up relationship, settle differences, bury the hatchet.
  6. 6
    To break down into constituent parts; to decompose; to disintegrate; to return to a simpler constitution or a primeval state.
  7. 7
    To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain.
  8. 8
    To cause a chord to go from dissonance to consonance.
  9. 9
    To render visible or distinguishable the parts of something.
  10. 10
    To find the IP address of a hostname, or the entity referred to by a symbol in source code; to look up.
  11. 11
    To melt; to dissolve; to liquefy or soften (a solid).
  12. 12
    To melt; to dissolve; to become liquid.
  13. 13
    To liquefy (a gas or vapour).
  14. 14
    To disperse or scatter; to discuss, as an inflammation or a tumour.
  15. 15
    To relax; to lie at ease.
  16. 16
    To separate racemic compounds into their enantiomers.
  17. 17
    To solve (an equation, etc.).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how resolve appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Exeter. Shall I call in Thambaſſadors my Liege? / King. Not yet my Couſin, til we be reſolude / Of ſome ſerious matters touching vs and France.
  2. to resolve a riddle

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.

This word in other languages

resolver(Español)résoudre(Français)lösen(Deutsch)resolver(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ersolve
  • reoslve
  • reslove
  • resolev
  • resollve
  • resolvve
  • resovle
  • ressolve
  • rresolve
  • rseolve

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of resolve - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ersolve2reoslve2reslove2resolev2resollve1resolvve1resovle2ressolve1
Edit distance from "resolve"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "resolve"?
"resolve" is spelled R-E-S-O-L-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈzɒlv/.
What does "resolve" mean?
As a verb, "resolve" means: To find a solution to (a problem).
What words are commonly confused with "resolve"?
"resolve" is commonly confused with "revolve", "resolved", "revolver". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "resolve"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "resolve" is /ɹɪˈzɒlv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "resolve"?
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. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "resolve", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

scandal#5,451placing#5,444partial#5,442tactics#5,457

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

Madison10 variantsvillages10 variantsarriving10 variantscounsel10 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list