resolve

Academic Word List, sublist 4.

About 12.94 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To find a solution to (a problem).
2. verb To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; to make clear or certain; to unravel; to explain.

   to resolve a riddle

3. verb To make a firm decision to do something. To become determined to reach a certain goal or take a certain action.

   I resolve to finish this work before I go home.

4. verb To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind; to fix; to settle.

   He was resolved by an unexpected event.

5. verb To come to an agreement or make peace; patch up relationship, settle differences, bury the hatchet.

   After two weeks of bickering, they finally resolved their differences.

6. verb To break down into constituent parts; to decompose; to disintegrate; to return to a simpler constitution or a primeval state.

   The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.

7. verb To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain.
8. verb To cause a chord to go from dissonance to consonance.

Similar words

solve decide answer purpose resoluteness resolution conclude declaration settle firmness

Often followed by

the to this a their of that it these

Word family

resolution resolvable resolved resolver resolvers resolves resolving