ENGLISH
REFERENCE

solution to sth

prep. phr..
A2 Elementary Oxford

prep. phr.. an answer to a problem or a way to fix a difficult situation.

prep. phr.. a noun phrase indicating the resolution or answer to a specific problem, puzzle, or conflict; characterized by the fixed prepositional collocate 'to'.


SIMPLE

We need to find a solution to this problem.

CONTEXTUAL

The government is working hard to find a permanent solution to the housing crisis.

COMPLEX

The proposed solution to the regional water shortage involves a combination of desalination plants and strict conservation laws.

Usage

always use the preposition 'to' after 'solution' when introducing the problem being solved.

Teaching tip

students often incorrectly use 'of' or 'for' because of their native language; emphasize 'solution to' as a fixed pattern through repetitive drilling.

Pitfall

the solution of the problemthe solution to the problemwhile 'of' is sometimes used in technical contexts, 'to' is the standard preposition for linking a solution to its specific problem.

© 2026 English Reference