Meaning & use
resolve to
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Meaning
phrasetransitive
to make a firm decision to do something
Grammar: Followed by a base verb: resolve to study, not resolve to studying.
Patterns
- resolve to do something
- resolve to be more careful
- resolve to change
After the accident, she resolved to drive more carefully.
He resolved to finish the project by Friday.
They resolved to improve communication within the team.
Common combinations
- resolve to do better
- After failing the exam, he resolved to do better next time.
- resolve to stop
- She resolved to stop smoking for the sake of her health.
- resolve to take action
- The committee resolved to take action on climate change.
- resolve to make changes
- The new CEO resolved to make changes in the company.
Synonyms and how they differ
- decide
- More neutral and common; 'resolve to' suggests a stronger, more determined decision.
- determine
- Formal; can mean to decide firmly, but also has other meanings like 'to find out'.
- pledge
- To make a serious promise, often publicly; 'resolve to' is more about a private decision.
Opposites
Word family
- resolution noun
- A firm decision or promise to do something.
- resolute adjective
- Showing firm determination.
Commonly confused: resolve to or resolve?
resolve to vs resolve
As a verb, 'resolve' can also mean 'to solve a problem' or 'to decide'. 'Resolve to' specifically means 'decide firmly to'.
Practice
She ______ to work harder after receiving her poor grades.
Choose one answer.
'Resolve to' is followed by a base verb: 'resolved to work'. 'Resolved' alone would need a different structure, and 'resolved for/on' are not used with a following verb in this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “resolve to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.