# resolve

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈzɒlv/ · frequency rank #5,449

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

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **revolve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resolve-vs-revolve)
- **resolved** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resolve-vs-resolved)
- **revolver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resolve-vs-revolver)
- **remove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remove-vs-resolve)
- **resale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resale-vs-resolve)
- **resold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resold-vs-resolve)
- **reserve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reserve-vs-resolve)
- **resolute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resolute-vs-resolve)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ersolve`, `reoslve`, `reslove`, `resolev`, `resollve`, `resolvve`, `resovle`, `ressolve`, `rresolve`, `rseolve`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/resolve