resume
verb (used with object)
to take up or go on with again after interruption; continue.
Trivia Time
Resume, in the sense of "a written account of professional qualifications," comes from a French word meaning what?
resume
1 American
[ri-zoom]
/ rɪˈzum /
verb (used with object)
-
resumes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
resumed,
past participle, past
-
resuming
present participle
-
to take up or go on with again after interruption; continue.
to resume a journey.
-
to take or occupy again.
to resume one's seat.
-
to take or assume use or practice of again.
to resume her maiden name.
-
to take back.
to resume the title to a property.
verb (used without object)
-
resumes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
resumed,
past participle, past
-
resuming
present participle
-
to go on or continue after interruption.
The dancing is about to resume.
-
to begin again.
resume
2
American
[rez-oo-may, rez-oo-may]
/ ˈrɛz ʊˌmeɪ, ˌrɛz ʊˈmeɪ /
Sometimes
resumé
or
résumé
noun
-
a brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job.
-
a summing up; summary.
resume
1
British
/ rɪˈzjuːm /
verb
-
to begin again or go on with (something adjourned or interrupted)
-
(tr) to occupy again, take back, or recover
to resume one's seat
to resume possession
-
(tr) to assume (a title, office, etc) again
to resume the presidency
-
archaic to summarize; make a résumé of
résumé
2
British
/ ˈrɛzjʊˌmeɪ /
noun
-
a short descriptive summary, as of events
-
another name for curriculum vitae
Spelling
Some French words borrowed into English preserve foreign features, like accent marks: café , déjà vu , résumé , séance , etc. In French, accent marks serve two purposes. They can mark a different vowel quality (the vowels e , è and é are pronounced very differently), or they may distinguish two words that would otherwise be homographs ( ou without an accent means “or,” while où with an accent means “where”). When you use these words in English, it is correct to write them with the French accents or without; the spellings divorcée and divorcee are both accepted. Some people prefer including the accent for accuracy or to evoke a subtle European flavor. The inclusion or omission of an accent mark when naming an establishment cafe or café suggests a certain expectation for the style and tone of the place. Other people find any use of a foreign accent mark to be unnecessary and pretentious. Be aware of your audience when making this decision. As in the original French, accents are useful for differentiating between two homographs. English speakers are more likely to keep the accents in a word like résumé or exposé in order to avoid confusion with the verbs resume or expose . Words without confusable English counterparts, like deja vu or cafe , are less likely to maintain their accents in written English. Generally, the use of foreign accents for words borrowed into English is optional. However, if you do choose to use accented letters, be sure to use the correct accent and be consistent within the word. For example, déjà vu has an acute (rising) accent mark in the first syllable and a grave (falling) accent in the second. The word résumé has two acute accent marks. Avoid haphazard or false accent marking, as sometimes seen in the spellings dejá vu or resumé . The best rule to follow for foreign accent marks is all or nothing.
Usage
Spelling tips for resume There are two words that use the spelling resume, and they’re pronounced very differently, which can make things confusing. As a verb meaning “to continue,” resume is pronounced [ ri-zoom ], which can sound like it should be spelled rezoom. As a noun referring to a list of a person’s professional qualifications, resume is pronounced [ rez-oo-mey ]. To reflect this pronunciation, the noun is sometimes spelled in the French manner, with accent marks (résumé or resumé), but they are not required and it is better to avoid using them. How to spell resume: First, remember that you don’t need any accent marks to spell the noun resume. You can remember how to spell the middle part by remembering that a resume should include the sum of your professional accomplishments. Then just remember that the verb that means “to continue” is spelled the exact same way.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
resumesimple
-
resumessimple
-
have resumedperfect
-
has resumedperfect
-
am resumingprogressive
-
are resumingprogressive
-
is resumingprogressive
-
have been resumingperfect progressive
-
has been resumingperfect progressive
Past
-
resumedsimple
-
had resumedperfect
-
was resumingprogressive
-
were resumingprogressive
-
had been resumingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of resume1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English resumen, from Middle French resumer or directly from Latin resūmere “to take back, take again,” equivalent to re- “again, back” + sūmere “to take”; see re-, consume
Origin of resume2
First recorded in 1795–1805; from French résumé, noun use of past participle of résumer “to sum up”
Explanation
If you resume something, you start it again after stopping. You might resume singing an aria after breaking to spit out your gum. Resume is from Latin resumere "to take up again, take back," from the prefix re- "again" plus sumere "to take up, take." The Latin verb sumere is formed from the prefix sub- "under, up" plus emere "to take." When you pause a movie or game and then you press play again, what you're really doing is resuming play.
Vocabulary lists containing resume
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English Words Derived from French, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In June, he added novelist to an already stacked resume with “Palmdale,” his incredibly entertaining dirtbag-noir debut about a PI and his estranged daughter reuniting over a case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
A LinkedIn account matching Alfozan's name and resume show that he previously worked at Facebook-owner Meta, as well as an AI startup and a venture capital firm.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
A spokesperson for British Airways said the plane landed safely at Gatwick due to a "minor technical issue" and passengers were due to resume their journey.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
With no flooding, refineries could be expected to resume operations within weeks, with roughly the same recovery timetable for offshore oil platforms, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
It would resume, the conductor said in English, French, and German, in an hour and a half.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
As a sitting state legislator who knows how to run local elections as an organizer and candidate, Nixon has a résumé that has prepared her for Washington, said Carr.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
Such a résumé can overshadow his distinction as a bandleader.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
In a trial brief submitted earlier this year, prosecutors alleged Weinberg repeatedly traded on his Hollywood résumé and affiliation with “Scrubs” — the beloved hospital sitcom he wrote and produced for from 2001 to 2010.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
We would also provide coaching on how to write a résumé and how to interview effectively.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
My makeup was minimal, and I carried a black leather briefcase with copies of my résumé.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
The union and Canadian officials fear significant job losses unless Stellantis resumes production at the auto plant, which has been idled since 2024.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
A splash of familiarity, as a conversation about the relationship we have with our nearest neighbours resumes.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Everyone resumes their business, carrying with them the lesson of never sacrificing their spirit even while living in a state of constant vigilance.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2026
In the process, she discovered the forgotten digital detritus left on their hard drives: old resumes, photo albums, Word documents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
But no matter how many resumes Dad had sent, he still hadn’t found another job.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
In response, the Saudi air force has been regularly targeting the group in support of the Yemeni government as hostilities resumed.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
A search for the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's plane on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean has resumed after severe weather caused researchers to stop for several days.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
The military said it had turned around 135 vessels since the blockade resumed July 14.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
She was introduced to Newsom — a likely Democratic contender for president in 2028 — by Newsom’s father, and moved back to the Bay Area, where she resumed working as a prosecutor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
The badger looked around as if she could not possibly believe she was being summoned back, but reluctantly resumed her place in the garden beside Clare.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
He said Thursday that he hoped the North would "join us now on the path of restoring trust and resuming dialogue, following a long interruption" -- a day after the military demanded an apology.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
The diplomatic path toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming discussions over Iran’s nuclear program remains highly uncertain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Kinsella's pioneering journey back to the sport is so rare it became the subject of a university research paper into elite gymnasts resuming their careers after giving birth.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Even if a governor rescinds the moratorium, resuming executions would be a long and complicated process because the state has no approved protocol or facilities to carry out death sentences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
He smiled and looked back down, resuming his sketching.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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