resolution
rez-uh-LOO-shun
/ˌrɛzəˈluːʃən/
A firm decision to do or not do something, or the quality of being determined.
Can refer to a formal pledge made on New Year's, a firm personal commitment, or the solving of a problem.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'solvere' (to loosen). To 'resolve' originally meant unravelling a complex issue into simple parts. By the 16th century, 'resolving an idea' came to mean breaking through doubts to arrive at a firm, clear decision.
Word relationships
- pledge: A pledge is often a formal public promise to others, while a resolution is frequently an internal personal commitment.
- determination: Determination describes the mental firmness trait, while resolution often denotes the specific decision made.
- irresolution: Irresolution means hesitant indecision and lack of firm purpose.
- vacillation: Vacillation refers to wavering indecisively between different choices.
Commonly confused with
- resolve: Resolve as a noun emphasizes inner willpower, whereas resolution often refers to the explicit decision or statement itself.
Word family
- resolve (verb): To decide firmly on a course of action.
- resolute (adjective): Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.
Collocations
- make a resolution
- keep a resolution
- firm resolution
- New Year's resolution
Idioms & expressions
- break a resolution
- stick to one's resolution
Example sentences
- "Her annual New Year's resolution was to read fifty classic novels and learn French." Personal Development
- "He faced the daunting challenge with unwavering purpose and quiet resolution." Formal Prose
Memory hook
Re-solving your habits by making a firm decision for the new year. Firm decision to solve a problem.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a vague wish; a resolution implies deliberate commitment or resolve.
Fun facts
- Babylonians are believed to have made the first recorded New Year's resolutions 4,000 years ago, promising gods to return borrowed farm tools.
Related words
Explore more words
resolute, settlement, mediation, decisive, dispute, compromise
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