solving
- 1Present participle and gerund of solve.
The detective spent weeks solving the mysterious break-in.
Solving the equation required several careful steps.
Note
The -ing form drops the silent final e of solve. As a participle it builds progressives (she is solving it). As a gerund it works as a noun yet keeps a direct object, so solving the puzzle and the solving of the puzzle are both correct. In algebra it pairs with for: solving for x means isolating that one variable. The archaic sense 'dissolving' is now rarely met.
We are still solving for x before we graph the line.
The solving of the puzzle took the whole evening.
solving is a form of solve
solve, verb: To work out how to resolve a problem or answer a question. Full entry
- Spelling
- solve → solving: drop the e, add -ing
Use it in a sentence
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