solve
solve
Pronunciation
IPA phonetic spelling for "solve": /sɒlv/
solve
/sɒlv/ - Consists of a single syllable.
/s/ - voiceless alveolar sibilant
/ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel
/l/ - alveolar lateral approximant
/v/ - voiced labiodental fricative
Word Form Variations
Base form: solve
Third-person singular present: solves
Present participle: solving
Past tense: solved
Past participle: solved
Noun form (related, not a direct variation of the verb itself): solution
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To find an answer or explanation for a problem, puzzle, or mystery.
Synonyms: resolve, figure out, decipher, crack, unravel
Antonyms: complicate, obscure, muddle, mystify
Example: She was able to solve the complex mathematical equation.
Definition 2: To deal with and overcome a difficulty or issue.
Synonyms: overcome, handle, manage, rectify, settle
Antonyms: create, cause, worsen, exacerbate
Example: The new policy aims to solve the problem of traffic congestion in the city.
Definition 3: (In chemistry) To dissolve a substance in a liquid, or to be capable of dissolving.
Synonyms: dissolve, melt, blend (in the context of liquids)
Antonyms: solidify, precipitate, crystallize
Example: Sugar will solve quickly in hot water.
Examples of Use
Books:
"Sherlock Holmes always manages to solve the most intricate cases, often by noticing details others overlook." (From The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, first published 1892)
"The protagonist's journey is a quest to solve the ancient riddle that holds the key to saving their world." (From a popular fantasy novel, 2023)
Newspapers:
"Economists are working to solve the puzzle of persistent inflation." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Local authorities are implementing new strategies to solve the city's housing crisis." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Researchers believe they have found a new way to solve the challenge of sustainable energy storage." (Nature Energy online)
"How tech companies are using AI to solve complex data analysis problems." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show: "Tonight, our forensic team must solve the mystery behind a baffling disappearance." (From a crime procedural drama, aired May 2025)
Video Game: "Your mission is to solve a series of ancient puzzles to unlock the hidden treasure." (From a popular adventure video game, 2024)
Podcast: "In this episode, we discuss how communities are coming together to solve social issues." (A current affairs podcast, March 2025)
Movie: "The detective spent years trying to solve the cold case, driven by a personal connection." (From a suspense film, released 2023)
General Public Discourse:
"We need to come up with innovative ideas to solve climate change." (Heard in a public forum discussion)
"Can you help me solve this Rubik's Cube? I've been stuck on it for an hour." (Casual conversation)
10 Quotes Using Solve
"We can not solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." (Albert Einstein)
"If I have a thousand problems and I solve one, then I have 999 problems." (Anonymous)
"It is not enough to simply identify problems; we must also solve them." (John F. Kennedy)
"The first step to truly solve a problem is to acknowledge that you have one." (Zig Ziglar)
"A problem well-stated is a problem half solved." (Charles Kettering)
"You can't solve a problem with the same mind that created it." (Wayne Dyer)
"We cannot solve the problems of the world by being good citizens. We have to be good humans." (Noam Chomsky)
"If you want to solve a problem, you must become part of the solution." (Anonymous)
"The best way to solve a problem is to prevent it." (Unknown)
"The challenge of life is not to have everything perfect, but to solve the challenges that come our way." (Joyce Meyer)
Etymology
The word "solve" has a pretty clear and interesting journey through language!
It comes to us from the Latin word "solvere". Imagine something tied up, or a knot. "Solvere" literally meant "to loosen," "to untie," "to release," or "to dissolve."
So, the very first known uses of "solve" in English, which appeared around the late 14th century, carried this sense of "dispersing," "dissipating," or "loosening." It was even used in a medical context to mean "dissolving a substance in a liquid." Think of how a solid lump "loosens" or "dissolves" when it breaks apart in water.
Over time, the meaning shifted from a purely physical "loosening" to a more abstract one. By the 16th century, "solve" started being used to mean "to explain" or "to clear up" a mystery or a question. It was like "untying" the knot of confusion in your mind to reveal the answer.
Later, in the 18th century, the mathematical sense of "working out the answer to a problem" came into common use. This makes perfect sense, as solving a math problem is essentially "untying" a complex set of numbers and operations to find a clear result.
So, at its heart, "solve" has always been about taking something that's bound, tangled, or unclear, and making it loose, clear, or understood.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Solve
Solve a problem: To find a solution to an issue.
Solve a mystery: To uncover the truth behind something puzzling.
Solve a puzzle: To figure out the answer to a riddle or game.
Solve a case: (Often in detective work) To bring a criminal investigation to a conclusion.
Solve an equation: To find the value of an unknown in a mathematical expression.
Solve a dispute: To resolve a disagreement between parties.
To crack the code: To figure out a secret message or complex system (using a synonym, "crack," for "solve").
To iron out the kinks: To smooth out problems or difficulties (idiom with a similar effect to "solve").
To untangle a mess: To bring order to a chaotic situation (idiom with a similar effect to "solve").
To nail down an answer: To definitively determine a solution (phrase with similar effect).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of solve from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
