unresolved
gb/ʌnɹɪzˈɑlvd/ us/ʌnɹɪzˈɑlvd/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
state
1
not solved or decided
An unresolved problem or question has not been solved or decided yet.
Usage pattern:
unresolved [issue/problem/question/dispute]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse unresolved with unsolved: unresolved is often used for issues, disputes, questions, and situations; unsolved is especially common for puzzles, crimes, and mathematical problems.
Synonyms
unsettled (emphasizes that no final agreement or decision has been reached)
|
undecided (mainly used when a decision has not been made)
|
unsolved (often used for problems, mysteries, crimes, or puzzles)
Antonyms
resolved (solved, settled, or dealt with)
|
settled (finally agreed or decided)
|
decided (having a clear decision made)
Collocations
unresolved issue
|unresolved problem
|unresolved question
|unresolved dispute
|unresolved conflict
|unresolved matter
|remain unresolved
|still unresolved
|largely unresolved
|unresolved case
Themes
problems
|decisions
|conflict
|work
Examples
- Several important questions remain unresolved after the meeting.
- The dispute between the two companies is still unresolved.
- Police reopened the unresolved case after new evidence appeared.
Learner examples
- The problem is still unresolved.
- We have two unresolved questions.
adjective
B2
state
2
not emotionally dealt with
Unresolved feelings or problems from the past have not been understood, accepted, or dealt with, and still affect someone.
Usage pattern:
unresolved [feelings/anger/grief/trauma/issues]
Common mistake:
Unresolved does not mean simply unhappy; it means the problem or feeling has not been worked through or settled.
Synonyms
unprocessed (emphasizes that someone has not worked through an experience emotionally)
|
unsettled (suggests continuing emotional discomfort or lack of closure)
|
unhealed (emphasizes lasting emotional pain)
Antonyms
resolved (emotionally dealt with or brought to closure)
|
accepted (recognized and emotionally come to terms with)
|
healed (no longer causing significant emotional pain)
Collocations
unresolved feelings
|unresolved anger
|unresolved grief
|unresolved trauma
|unresolved issues
|unresolved tension
|unresolved conflict
|deeply unresolved
|emotionally unresolved
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|psychology
|personal_development
Examples
- His unresolved grief made it hard for him to talk about his father.
- There was still unresolved tension between the sisters.
- Therapy helped her understand some unresolved issues from childhood.
Learner examples
- He has unresolved feelings about the breakup.
- Their argument left a lot of unresolved tension.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
not clearly distinguished
Something unresolved is not clear enough to be seen, heard, or identified separately.
Usage pattern:
unresolved [detail/signal/feature/source]
Common mistake:
This technical use is different from an unresolved problem; it refers to lack of clarity or separation in what is observed.
Synonyms
indistinct (not clearly seen, heard, or defined)
|
unclear (general word for not easy to perceive or understand)
|
blurred (especially used for images or edges that are not sharp)
Antonyms
resolved (clear or separated enough to be identified)
|
distinct (clearly different or separate)
|
clear (easy to see, hear, or identify)
Collocations
unresolved detail
|unresolved signal
|unresolved feature
|unresolved source
|spatially unresolved
|spectrally unresolved
|largely unresolved
Themes
science
|technology
|images
|sound
Examples
- The telescope showed the star as an unresolved point of light.
- Some low-level details in the image remain unresolved.
- The instrument could not separate the two unresolved signals.
Learner examples
- The image is too blurry, so the detail is unresolved.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unresolved
IPA
GB/ʌnɹɪzˈɑlvd/
US/ʌnɹɪzˈɑlvd/
Syllables & stress
un - re - solved (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (solved)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: unresolved
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.