Dissolve vs Melt

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Dissolve

Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Melt

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 verb

Most common: Melt

	Dissolve	Melt
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈzɒlv/","/dɪˈzɒlvz/","/dɪˈzɒlvd/","/dɪˈzɒlvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈzɑːlv/","/dɪˈzɑːlvz/","/dɪˈzɑːlvd/","/dɪˈzɑːlvɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/melt/","/melts/","/ˈmeltɪd/","/ˈmeltɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/melt/","/melts/","/ˈmeltɪd/","/ˈmeltɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To mix something into a liquid until it becomes part of it.	To change from solid to liquid, usually with heat.
Example	The sugar will dissolve quickly in hot water.	The ice will melt when the temperature rises above freezing.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	C1	B2
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	completely, gradually, slowly, in, completely, gradually, slowly, in, formally, officially, effectively	melt chocolate, melt ice, melt away, melt into
Antonyms	solidify, freeze, coagulate	freeze, solidify, harden
Common mistakes	Using 'dissolve' with an incorrect preposition, like 'at' instead of 'in'., Confusing 'dissolve' with 'solve', which means to find an answer., 'Dissolving' is not used in the passive voice as often as learners might think.	Using 'melt' for living things (e.g., 'melt a person'), Confusing 'melt' with 'dissolve', Incorrectly using 'melted' as an adjective for solids
Usage notes	Commonly used in cooking or chemistry contexts. More formal in scientific discussions, less so in everyday conversation. Avoid using in metaphorical contexts unless clear.	Use 'melt' when referring to materials like chocolate or ice. It's not used with living things and is more common in cooking contexts.

See it in real clips

We need the heir of a major corporation to dissolve his father's empire.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

It will, however, dissolve metal, rock, glass, ceramic.

We need the heir of a major corporation to dissolve his father's empire.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

It will, however, dissolve metal, rock, glass, ceramic.

Dissolve

And on top, a thin slice of melted cheese.

Melt

Frequently asked questions: Dissolve vs Melt

What's the difference between Dissolve and Melt?

Dissolve: To mix something into a liquid until it becomes part of it. Melt: To change from solid to liquid, usually with heat.

Which is more common: Dissolve and Melt?

Melt is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Dissolve and Melt?

Dissolve is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Dissolve and Melt the same CEFR level?

Dissolve: C1, Melt: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Dissolve and Melt?

Dissolve: verb, Melt: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Dissolve: The sugar will dissolve quickly in hot water. Melt: The ice will melt when the temperature rises above freezing.

Can I use Dissolve and Melt interchangeably?

Not always. Dissolve and Melt are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.