resolve
To decide firmly to do something, or to find an answer to a problem.
resolve in a sentence
- At New Year, I resolve to read a book every week.
- The teacher helped the girls resolve their argument.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to resolve?
- Adecide
- Bhesitate
- Cdither
- Dwaver
Show the answer
A: decide. The other three mean the opposite of resolve.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to resolve?
- Asolve
- Bsettle
- Cwaver
- Ddecide
Show the answer
C: waver. The other three mean nearly the same as resolve.
Words that mean something similar
decide, settle, solve
Words that mean the opposite
waver, hesitate, dither
More words about thinking & learning
- retain: To keep or hold on to something.
- sceptical: Not sure something is true and needing proof before you believe it.
- scrutinise: To look at something very closely and carefully to check every detail.
- shrewd: Clever at judging people and situations, especially to get what you want.
- specific: Exact and clearly stated, not general.
- strive: To try very hard to achieve something.
- subtle: Small and not obvious, so it is easy to miss.
- superficial: Only on the surface, without going deep.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test