diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c0a3f16cdd..3d751731c6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ $ ruby-build --list                        # lists latest stable releases for ea
 $ ruby-build --definitions                 # lists all definitions, including outdated ones
 $ ruby-build 3.2.2 ~/.rubies/ruby-3.2.2    # installs Ruby 3.2.2
 $ ruby-build -d ruby-3.2.2 ~/.rubies       # alternate form for the previous example
+$ ruby-build -d 3.2 ~/.rubies/             # installs latest "ruby-3.2" (3.2.10)
 
 # As an rbenv plugin
 $ rbenv install 3.2.2  # installs Ruby 3.2.2 to ~/.rbenv/versions/3.2.2
diff --git a/bin/rbenv-install b/bin/rbenv-install
index b5f47800c2..db2d56c5ef 100755
--- a/bin/rbenv-install
+++ b/bin/rbenv-install
@@ -144,6 +144,12 @@ DEFINITION="${ARGUMENTS[0]}"
 [ -n "$DEFINITION" ] || DEFINITION="$(rbenv-local 2>/dev/null || true)"
 [ -n "$DEFINITION" ] || usage 1 >&2
 
+[ -n "$DEFINITION" ] && RESOLVED_DEFINITION="$(ruby-build --resolve "${DEFINITION}" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+
+if [ -n "$RESOLVED_DEFINITION" ]; then
+  DEFINITION="$RESOLVED_DEFINITION"
+fi
+
 # Define `before_install` and `after_install` functions that allow
 # plugin hooks to register a string of code for execution before or
 # after the installation process.
diff --git a/bin/ruby-build b/bin/ruby-build
index 480973f6ab..b338c71614 100755
--- a/bin/ruby-build
+++ b/bin/ruby-build
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 #
 # Usage: ruby-build [-dvpk] <definition> <prefix> [-- <configure-args...>]
 #        ruby-build {--list|--definitions}
+#        ruby-build {--resolve} <version>
 #        ruby-build --version
 #
 #   -l, --list      List latest stable releases for each Ruby
+#   --resolve       Find the most recent version matching a prefix.
 #   --definitions   List all local definitions, including outdated ones
 #   --version       Show version of ruby-build
 #
@@ -1401,6 +1403,29 @@ list_maintained_versions() {
   } | extract_latest_versions | sort_versions | uniq
 }
 
+filter_version_prefix()
+{
+  pattern="${1//./\.}"
+  pattern="${pattern//+/\+}"
+  grep -e "^${pattern}[-.$]"
+}
+
+resolve() {
+  prefix="${1%.}"
+  prefix="${prefix#ruby-}"
+
+  version=$(list_definitions | \
+    grep -v -e '-rc[0-9]*$' -e '-preview[0-9]*$' -e '-dev$' | \
+    filter_version_prefix "${prefix}" | \
+    LC_ALL=C sort -t. -k 1,1 -k 2,2n -k 3,3n -k 4,4n -k 5,5n | \
+    tail -n 1)
+
+  [[ -z "${version}" ]] && return 1
+  [[ "${1}" = "ruby-"* ]] && version="ruby-${version}"
+
+  echo "${version}"
+}
+
 extract_latest_versions() {
   # sort in this function looks redundunt but it is necessary
   # rbx-3.99 appears latest unless the sort
@@ -1443,6 +1468,9 @@ for option in "${OPTIONS[@]}"; do
   "l" | "list")
     EARLY_EXIT=list_maintained_versions
     ;;
+  "resolve")
+    EARLY_EXIT=resolve
+    ;;
   "d" | "dir")
     APPEND_DEFINITION_TO_PREFIX=true
     ;;
@@ -1493,22 +1521,15 @@ if [ "${#EXTRA_ARGUMENTS[@]}" -gt 0 ]; then
   RUBY_CONFIGURE_OPTS_ARRAY=("${EXTRA_ARGUMENTS[@]}")
 fi
 
-if [ "$APPEND_DEFINITION_TO_PREFIX" = "true" ]; then
-  if [ -p "$DEFINITION_PATH" ]; then
-    echo "ruby-build: using named pipes in combination with \`--dir' is not possible" >&2
-    EARLY_EXIT=usage_error
-  fi
-  PREFIX_PATH="$PREFIX_PATH/$(basename "$DEFINITION_PATH")"
-fi
-
 case "$EARLY_EXIT" in
 help )
   version
   echo
   usage 0
   ;;
-version | list_definitions | list_maintained_versions )
-  "$EARLY_EXIT"
+version | list_definitions | list_maintained_versions | resolve )
+  shift
+  "$EARLY_EXIT" "$@"
   exit 0
   ;;
 usage_error )
@@ -1523,6 +1544,8 @@ usage_error )
   ;;
 esac
 
+DEFINITION_PREFIX=""
+
 # expand the <definition> argument to full path of the definition file
 if [[ ! -f "$DEFINITION_PATH" && ! -p "$DEFINITION_PATH" ]]; then
   for DEFINITION_DIR in "${RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS[@]}"; do
@@ -1534,10 +1557,26 @@ if [[ ! -f "$DEFINITION_PATH" && ! -p "$DEFINITION_PATH" ]]; then
 
   # If the given definition is like ruby-X.Y.Z, search again with X.Y.Z
   if [[ "$DEFINITION_PATH" =~ ^ruby-[0-9] ]]; then
-    DEFINITION_PATH="${DEFINITION_PATH#ruby-}"
+    UNPREFIXED_DEFINITION_PATH="${DEFINITION_PATH#ruby-}"
     for DEFINITION_DIR in "${RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS[@]}"; do
-      if [ -f "${DEFINITION_DIR}/${DEFINITION_PATH}" ]; then
-        DEFINITION_PATH="${DEFINITION_DIR}/${DEFINITION_PATH}"
+      if [ -f "${DEFINITION_DIR}/${UNPREFIXED_DEFINITION_PATH}" ]; then
+        DEFINITION_PREFIX="ruby-"
+        DEFINITION_PATH="${DEFINITION_DIR}/${UNPREFIXED_DEFINITION_PATH}"
+        break
+      fi
+    done
+  fi
+
+  # If the given definition isn't a perfect match, we do a prefix search.
+  if [ ! -f "$DEFINITION_PATH" ]; then
+    FULLY_QUALIFIED_VERSION=$(resolve "$DEFINITION_PATH")
+    for DEFINITION_DIR in "${RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS[@]}"; do
+      if [ -f "${DEFINITION_DIR}/${FULLY_QUALIFIED_VERSION}" ]; then
+        if [[ "$DEFINITION_PATH" =~ ^ruby-[0-9] ]]; then
+          DEFINITION_PREFIX="ruby-"
+        fi
+
+        DEFINITION_PATH="${DEFINITION_DIR}/${FULLY_QUALIFIED_VERSION}"
         break
       fi
     done
@@ -1549,6 +1588,14 @@ if [[ ! -f "$DEFINITION_PATH" && ! -p "$DEFINITION_PATH" ]]; then
   fi
 fi
 
+if [ "$APPEND_DEFINITION_TO_PREFIX" = "true" ]; then
+  if [ -p "$DEFINITION_PATH" ]; then
+    echo "ruby-build: using named pipes in combination with \`--dir' is not possible" >&2
+    EARLY_EXIT=usage_error
+  fi
+  PREFIX_PATH="$PREFIX_PATH/${DEFINITION_PREFIX}$(basename "$DEFINITION_PATH")"
+fi
+
 # normalize the <prefix> argument
 if [ "${PREFIX_PATH#/}" = "$PREFIX_PATH" ]; then
   PREFIX_PATH="${PWD}/${PREFIX_PATH}"
diff --git a/test/definitions.bats b/test/definitions.bats
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index dc510d01c6..87b40fdfe9
--- a/test/definitions.bats
+++ b/test/definitions.bats
@@ -60,6 +60,76 @@ NUM_DEFINITIONS="$(ls "$BATS_TEST_DIRNAME"/../share/ruby-build | wc -l)"
   assert_success ""
 }
 
+@test "installing definition by prefix" {
+  export RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS="${TMP}/definitions"
+  mkdir -p "${TMP}/definitions"
+
+  echo false > "${TMP}/definitions/1.8.6"
+  echo false > "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.3"
+  echo true  > "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.10"
+  echo false > "${TMP}/definitions/1.90.0"
+  echo false > "${TMP}/definitions/2.0.0"
+
+  run bin/ruby-build "1.9" "${TMP}/install"
+  assert_success ""
+}
+
+@test "resolve definition by version prefix" {
+  export RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS="${TMP}/definitions"
+  mkdir -p "${TMP}/definitions"
+
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.8.6"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.3"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.10"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.90.0"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/2.0.0"
+
+  run bin/ruby-build --resolve "1.9" "${TMP}/install"
+  assert_success "1.9.10"
+}
+
+@test "resolve definition with ruby prefix" {
+  export RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS="${TMP}/definitions"
+  mkdir -p "${TMP}/definitions"
+
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.8.6"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.3"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.10"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.90.0"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/2.0.0"
+
+  run bin/ruby-build --resolve "ruby-1.9" "${TMP}/install"
+  assert_success "ruby-1.9.10"
+}
+
+@test "resolve definition by implementation name" {
+  export RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS="${TMP}/definitions"
+  mkdir -p "${TMP}/definitions"
+
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/foo-1.8.6"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/foo-1.9.3"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.10"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.90.0"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/2.0.0"
+
+  run bin/ruby-build --resolve "foo" "${TMP}/install"
+  assert_success "foo-1.9.3"
+}
+
+@test "resolve definition by implementation name and version" {
+  export RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS="${TMP}/definitions"
+  mkdir -p "${TMP}/definitions"
+
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/foo-1.8.6"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/foo-1.9.3"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.9.10"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/1.90.0"
+  touch "${TMP}/definitions/2.0.0"
+
+  run bin/ruby-build --resolve "foo-1.8" "${TMP}/install"
+  assert_success "foo-1.8.6"
+}
+
 @test "installing nonexistent definition" {
   run ruby-build "nonexistent" "${TMP}/install"
   assert [ "$status" -eq 2 ]
diff --git a/test/installer.bats b/test/installer.bats
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/test/rbenv.bats b/test/rbenv.bats
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 2f52961a31..e5bea4c899
--- a/test/rbenv.bats
+++ b/test/rbenv.bats
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ stub_ruby_build() {
 }
 
 @test "install proper" {
-  stub_ruby_build 'echo ruby-build "$@"'
+  stub_ruby_build 'echo 2.1.2' 'echo ruby-build "$@"'
 
   run rbenv-install 2.1.2
   assert_success "ruby-build 2.1.2 ${RBENV_ROOT}/versions/2.1.2"
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ stub_ruby_build() {
 }
 
 @test "install with flags" {
-  stub_ruby_build 'echo "ruby-build $(inspect_args "$@")"'
+  stub_ruby_build 'echo 2.1.2' 'echo "ruby-build $(inspect_args "$@")"'
 
   run rbenv-install -kpv 2.1.2 -- --with-configure-opt="hello world"
   assert_success "ruby-build --keep --verbose --patch 2.1.2 ${RBENV_ROOT}/versions/2.1.2 -- \"--with-configure-opt=hello world\""
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ stub_ruby_build() {
 
 @test "suggest running rbenv global after install" {
   rm -rf "$RBENV_ROOT/version"
-  stub_ruby_build 'echo ruby-build "$@"'
+  stub_ruby_build 'echo 2.1.2' 'echo ruby-build "$@"'
 
   run rbenv-install 2.1.2
   assert_success <<OUT
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ OUT
 }
 
 @test "install rbenv local version by default" {
-  stub_ruby_build 'echo ruby-build "$1"'
+  stub_ruby_build 'echo 2.1.2' 'echo ruby-build "$1"'
   stub rbenv-local 'echo 2.1.2'
 
   run rbenv-install
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ OUT
   fi
 
   stub_repeated brew false
-  stub_ruby_build 'echo ERROR >&2 && exit 2' \
+  stub_ruby_build 'exit 1' \
+    'echo ERROR >&2 && exit 2' \
     "--definitions : echo 1.8.7 1.9.3-p0 1.9.3-p194 2.1.2 | tr ' ' $'\\n'"
 
   run rbenv-install 1.9.3
@@ -127,10 +128,11 @@ OUT
 
 @test "Homebrew upgrade instructions" {
   stub brew "--prefix : echo '${BATS_TEST_DIRNAME%/*}'"
-  stub_ruby_build 'echo ERROR >&2 && exit 2' \
+  stub_ruby_build 'exit 1' \
+    'echo ERROR >&2 && exit 2' \
     "--definitions : true"
 
-  run rbenv-install 1.9.3
+  run rbenv-install 1.9.10
   assert_failure
   assert_output <<OUT
 ERROR
@@ -148,7 +150,8 @@ OUT
 
 @test "no build definitions from plugins" {
   refute [ -e "${RBENV_ROOT}/plugins" ]
-  stub_ruby_build 'echo $RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS'
+  stub_ruby_build 'echo 2.1.2' \
+    'echo $RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS'
 
   run rbenv-install 2.1.2
   assert_success ""
@@ -157,7 +160,8 @@ OUT
 @test "some build definitions from plugins" {
   mkdir -p "${RBENV_ROOT}/plugins/foo/share/ruby-build"
   mkdir -p "${RBENV_ROOT}/plugins/bar/share/ruby-build"
-  stub_ruby_build "echo \$RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS | tr ':' $'\\n'"
+  stub_ruby_build 'echo 2.1.2' \
+    "echo \$RUBY_BUILD_DEFINITIONS | tr ':' $'\\n'"
 
   run rbenv-install 2.1.2
   assert_success