# solve

> English word · Verb · IPA /sɑlv/ · frequency rank #3,528

## Definitions
1. To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.
2. to find out the perpetrator, the motive etc (of crime)
3. To find the values of variables that satisfy a system of equations and/or inequalities.
4. To algebraically manipulate an equation or inequality into a form that isolates a chosen variable on one side, so that the other side consists of an expression that may be used to generate solutions.
5. To loosen or separate the parts of.
6. To loosen or separate the parts of.

## Etymology
From Middle English solven, from Latin solvō.

## Easily confused with
- **sov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-sov)
- **some** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-some)
- **sore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-sore)
- **sone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-sone)
- **Steve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-steve)
- **stole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-stole)
- **stove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-stove)
- **stave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-stave)
- **suave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-suave)
- **Somme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-somme)
- **solver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-solver)
- **Sylvie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-sylvie)
- **solvent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solve-vs-solvent)
- **sol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sol-vs-solve)
- **soe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soe-vs-solve)
- **SLE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sle-vs-solve)
- **save** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/save-vs-solve)
- **sale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sale-vs-solve)
- **sold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sold-vs-solve)
- **solo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solo-vs-solve)

## Common misspellings (7)
`oslve`, `slove`, `solev`, `sollve`, `solvve`, `sovle`, `ssolve`

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