RESOLVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does resolve mean? 

• RESOLVE (noun)
  The noun RESOLVE has 2 senses:

1. the trait of being resolute

2. a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote

  Familiarity information: RESOLVE used as a noun is rare.

• RESOLVE (verb)
  The verb RESOLVE has 7 senses:

1. bring to an end; settle conclusively

2. reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation

3. reach a decision

4. understand the meaning of

5. make clearly visible

6. find the solution

7. cause to go into a solution

  Familiarity information: RESOLVE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RESOLVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The trait of being resolute

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve

Context example:

it was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work

Hypernyms ("resolve" is a kind of...):

trait (a distinguishing feature of your personal nature)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "resolve"):

steadiness (freedom from wavering or indecision; constancy of resolve or conduct)

steadfastness (steadfast resolution)

determination; purpose (the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose)

decision; decisiveness (the trait of resoluteness as evidenced by firmness of character or purpose)

adamance; obduracy; unyieldingness (resoluteness by virtue of being unyielding and inflexible)

single-mindedness (characterized by one unified purpose)

bullheadedness; obstinacy; obstinance; pigheadedness; self-will; stubbornness (resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires)

stiffness (firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action)

sturdiness (resoluteness evidenced by strength of character)

possession; self-command; self-control; self-possession; self-will; will power; willpower (the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

declaration; resolution; resolve

Hypernyms ("resolve" is a kind of...):

document; papers; written document (writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "resolve"):

joint resolution (a resolution passed by both houses of Congress which becomes legally binding when signed by the Chief Executive (or passed over the Chief Executive's veto))

Instance hyponyms:

Declaration of Independence (the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the Colonies from Great Britain)

Derivation:

resolve (bring to an end; settle conclusively)

resolve (reach a decision)

resolve (reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation)

• RESOLVE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bring to an end; settle conclusively

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

adjudicate; decide; resolve; settle

Context example:

The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance

Hypernyms (to "resolve" is one way to...):

end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "resolve"):

judge (determine the result of (a competition))

adjust (decide how much is to be paid on an insurance claim)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

resolve (a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

conclude; resolve

Hypernyms (to "resolve" is one way to...):

agree; concord; concur; hold (be in accord; be in agreement)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "resolve"):

determine; settle; square off; square up (settle conclusively; come to terms)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

resolve (a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reach a decision

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

purpose; resolve

Context example:

he resolved never to drink again

Hypernyms (to "resolve" is one way to...):

decide; determine; make up one's mind (reach, make, or come to a decision about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They resolve to move

Derivation:

resolution (a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner)

resolve (a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Understand the meaning of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

answer; resolve

Context example:

The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered

Hypernyms (to "resolve" is one way to...):

figure out; lick; puzzle out; solve; work; work out (find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make clearly visible

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

can this image be resolved?

Hypernyms (to "resolve" is one way to...):

discern; distinguish; make out; pick out; recognise; recognize; spot; tell apart (detect with the senses)

Domain category:

optics (the branch of physics that studies the physical properties of light)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

resolving (analysis into clear-cut components)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Find the solution

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

resolve; solve

Context example:

solve for x

Hypernyms (to "resolve" is one way to...):

calculate; cipher; compute; cypher; figure; reckon; work out (make a mathematical calculation or computation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "resolve"):

factorise; factorize (resolve (a polynomial) into factors)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

resolution (finding a solution to a problem)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Cause to go into a solution

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

break up; dissolve; resolve

Context example:

The recipe says that we should dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water

Hypernyms (to "resolve" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Cause:

dissolve (pass into a solution)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "resolve"):

melt; melt down; run (reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating)

cut (dissolve by breaking down the fat of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

resolvent (a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances)

 Context examples 

It was because I felt and knew this, that I resolved to marry you.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Some one must resolve on being off for Uppercross instantly.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

She listened—the sound had ceased; and resolving not to lose a moment, she passed through and closed the door.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I read my little book, felt better, resolved not to let the sun set on my anger, and ran over to tell Laurie I was sorry.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Whatever I do is done in a hurry, replied he; and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

How perfectly I remember my resolving to look for you upstairs, and setting off to find my way to the East room, without having an idea whereabouts it was!

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She had long resolved that one-and-twenty should be the period.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

On somebody's motion, we resolved to go downstairs to the dress-boxes, where the ladies were.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

These episodes usually resolve in a few seconds.

(Cyanotic Attacks in Children, NCI Thesaurus)

The acute respiratory disease has symptoms similar to those of a cold or flu and it usually resolves without treatment in healthy individuals.

(Histoplasmosis, NCI Thesaurus)