Solve Meaning
/sɒlv/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.
verbto find out the perpetrator, the motive etc (of crime)
Sentence Examples
You are too clever not to solve the hard problem.
Could you solve the problem?
Attempts are being made to solve the problem of waste disposal.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective used the new clue to ____ the difficult puzzle quickly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It took the detectives several weeks to finally ____ the mystery of the missing jewels from the museum.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English solven, from Latin solvō.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"True piety would effectually solve such scruples."
— 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
"God shall solve the dark decrees of fate."
— 1649, Thomas Tickell, Thoughts occasioned by the sight of an original picture of King Charles I taken at the time of his trial:
"A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays. This set-up solves several problems […]."
— 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
"The solve is this, that thou dost common grow."
— 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 69”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
"“Hey, Mr. Quilt Bandit.”
Ian smiled. “Nice solve, Nancy Drew.”"
— 2017, Elodia Strain, The Dating Experiment, →ISBN:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective used the new clue to ____ the difficult puzzle quickly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It took the detectives several weeks to finally ____ the mystery of the missing jewels from the museum.