Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not settled or concluded; still open to question or debate: Refers to a situation, problem, or issue that has not been decided, answered, or finished.
   • Not resolved or solved: Describes a conflict, mystery, or difficulty that remains without a solution or clear outcome.
   • Characterized by musical dissonance; not harmonically resolved: In music, describes a chord or note that creates tension because it does not progress to a stable, expected harmonious chord.

Examples of Usage

• General Context:
  • The conflict between the two countries remains unresolved.
  • Her feelings about the move were still unresolved.
• Musical Context:
  • The piece ends on an unresolved chord, creating a sense of suspense.

Advanced Usage

• "An unresolved issue": A problem or matter that has not been dealt with or settled.
  • The main unresolved issue is the budget allocation.
• "To leave something unresolved": To not provide a solution or conclusion to something.
  • The detective left the case unresolved, much to everyone's frustration.

Variants and Related Words

• Unresolvable (adj): Incapable of being resolved or solved.
  • Some philosophical debates are fundamentally unresolvable.
• Resolve (v): To find a solution to; to decide firmly on a course of action.
  • They met to resolve their differences.

Synonyms

• Unsettled: Not resolved or concluded.
• Pending: Awaiting decision or settlement.
• Open: Still subject to debate or finalization.
• Undecided: Not having made a decision.

Antonyms

• Resolved: Settled or solved.
• Decided: Settled; definite.
• Concluded: Brought to an end.

Related Phrases

• Hang in the balance: To be in an unresolved or uncertain state.
  • The future of the project hangs in the balance.
• Up in the air: Not yet decided or settled.
  • Our vacation plans are still up in the air.

Adjective

1. characterized by musical dissonance; harmonically unresolved
2. not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
   • an open question
   • our position on this bill is still undecided
   • our lawsuit is still undetermined
3. not solved
   • many crimes remain unsolved
   • many problems remain unresolved