I. re ‧ solve 1 W3 AC /rɪˈzɒlv $ rɪˈzɑːlv, rɪˈzɒːlv/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ resolve ; noun : ↑ resolution ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: resolvere 'to unloose' , from solvere ; ⇨ ↑ solve ]
1 . to find a satisfactory way of dealing with a problem or difficulty SYN solve ⇨ settle
resolve a dispute/conflict/problem etc
The crisis was resolved by negotiations.
Barnet was desperate for money to resolve his financial problems.
2 . formal to make a definite decision to do something
resolve to do something
After the divorce she resolved never to marry again.
resolve that
Mary resolved that she would stop smoking.
3 . to make a formal decision, especially by voting
resolve to do something
The Senate resolved to accept the President’s proposals.
4 . technical to separate something into its different parts:
DNA samples were extracted and resolved.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ resolve a problem/crisis/situation
Action is being taken to resolve the problem.
▪ resolve a dispute/conflict
Negotiation is the only way to resolve the dispute.
▪ resolve an issue/matter/question
Has the issue been resolved yet?
▪ resolve your differences (=stop arguing with each other)
She and Rose had finally resolved their differences.
■ adverbs
▪ satisfactorily
Some problems still hadn’t been satisfactorily resolved.
▪ fully/completely
It is a row that may never be fully resolved.
▪ peacefully
We wanted to resolve the situation peacefully.
▪ amicably (=in a friendly way)
We will always do our best to resolve complaints amicably.
▪ quickly
The matter was resolved quite quickly.
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THESAURUS
▪ decide to make a choice to do something:
We decided to send our son to a boarding school.
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I decided to go home early.
▪ make up your mind to decide something, especially after thinking about it for a long time. Make up your mind is less formal than decide and is mainly used in spoken English:
Have you made up your mind about where you’ll go on holiday?
▪ choose to do something to decide to do something – especially when this is different from what people expect or tell you to do:
She chose to ignore my advice.
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More young couples are choosing not to marry.
▪ make a decision to decide after thinking carefully about something, especially about something that is very important:
They made a decision not to have children.
▪ resolve formal to decide that you will definitely do something, especially because you think it will be better for you, or because of your past experiences:
She resolved to work hard at school.
▪ determine formal to officially decide what something shall be:
Each hospital can determine its own pay rates.
▪ come down in favour of something British English , come down in favor of something American English to decide to support a particular plan, argument etc – used especially about groups of people:
Eight of the ten committee members came down in favour of the changes.
▪ come to/reach a decision to officially decide about something important after discussing and carefully considering it - used especially about groups of people:
After two hours of discussion, the comittee had still not come to a decision on any of the proposals.
resolve (something) into something phrasal verb
1 . technical to separate into parts, or to separate something:
This mixture will resolve into two separate compounds.
2 . resolve (itself) into something formal to gradually change into something else SYN become :
The argument resolved itself into an uneasy truce.
II. resolve 2 AC BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
formal strong determination to succeed in doing something:
Recent events strengthened her resolve to find out the truth.
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THESAURUS
▪ determination the quality of continuing to try to do something, even when it is difficult:
Bill got where he is today by sheer hard work and determination.
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I really admired her determination to live her own life.
▪ willpower the ability to control your mind and body in order to achieve something you have decided to do:
It takes a lot of willpower to give up smoking.
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She made herself get better by sheer willpower, when everyone else had given up hope.
▪ drive the determination and energy to succeed, especially in business or work:
We’re looking for young people who have drive, initiative, and new ideas.
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He’s clever enough, but he lacks drive.
▪ resolve formal a strong determination to succeed in doing something, especially because you are sure that it is a good thing to do:
The poverty she saw there strengthened her resolve to do something to help.
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The success of a military enterprise depends partly on the resolve of its leaders.
▪ perseverance the ability to continue trying to achieve something over a long period in a patient way, even when this is difficult:
Reaching this standard of musical skill requires incredible perseverance.
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A good teacher should have imagination and perseverance.
▪ ruthlessness the quality of being extremely determined to achieve what you want, and not caring if you have to hurt other people to do it:
He was a man who pursued his aims with complete ruthlessness.
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The revolt was suppressed with total ruthlessness.
▪ tenacity formal the determination to never stop trying to do something, especially when other people try to stop you:
He clung to power with a remarkable tenacity.
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When fighting cancer, Tsongas showed the same tenacity he displayed in politics.