# solve

/ˈsɑɫv/ (US) · /sˈɒlv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/solve
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to find an answer

verb · CEFR A2

to find the correct answer to a problem, a puzzle, or a difficult situation.

For teachers: to find a solution to a problem, puzzle, or difficult situation through reasoning or investigation.

- It took me nearly an hour to solve the crossword puzzle in the newspaper.
- The engineering team worked through the night to solve the technical glitch that had halted production for three days.

Usage: Transitive verb taking a direct object representing the problem or puzzle.

### 2. to explain a mystery

verb · CEFR B1

to find out who committed a crime or why something mysterious happened.

For teachers: to discover the perpetrator, motive, or explanation for a crime or mystery.

- The police finally solved the case after finding new evidence in the basement.
- Detectives spent months reviewing forensic data before they could finally solve the mystery of the missing inheritance.

Usage: Commonly collocates with 'crime', 'mystery', 'case', or 'murder'.

### 3. mathematics

verb · CEFR B1 · Technical

to find the value of a number in a math problem.

For teachers: to find the values of variables that satisfy a system of equations or inequalities.

- You need to solve for x to find the length of the triangle's side.
- Students were asked to solve the quadratic equation using both the formula and the completing-the-square method.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'for' when identifying a specific variable.

## Examples

- I need to solve this math problem before class.
- The detective worked for months to solve the mystery of the missing painting.
- Engineers are currently developing new software to solve the complex logistical issues that arise during large-scale urban construction projects.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.