resume
verb (used with object)
to take up or go on with again after interruption; continue.
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-mey, rez-oo-mey]
/ 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
Unit 1: Telling Details
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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:
The inquest will resume following the conclusion of the police investigation, the corner said.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said the legislation did not go far enough, but his spokesman said a special session to resume the debate is unlikely.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The whistleblower also said that Postal Service leaders ordered employees to resume work on the system about a month ago, while it was barred by the court.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
Icelanders are voting in a referendum to decide whether to resume talks on joining the European Union, 13 years after they were broken off.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
She didn’t have much time before he called them to resume.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
The key to a killer résumé is your perfect scrambled eggs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
But despite that lack of résumé, Graham triumphed on Tuesday.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
Then again, with a major financial advantage and a flawed opponent, she didn’t need a résumé.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
In addition to getting more in touch with her outdoorsy side, Fanning added an unexpected skill to her résumé.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
My makeup was minimal, and I carried a black leather briefcase with copies of my résumé.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Scammers can use publicly available career data on social-media sites or resumes posted on job sites as a resource, Lee said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026
Nomura resumes coverage of the stock with a buy rating and a target price of 110,000 won.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Before the season resumes, our F1 correspondent Andrew Benson answers your latest questions.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
When the cooking resumes, several salmon cakes have already been shaped and set aside.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
Allys picks up her sandwich and resumes eating.
From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson
Play resumed and Sabalenka won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
It was not clear whether Robicheaux had resumed working as a doctor in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
It only resumed last year after Beijing and New Delhi repaired ties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
"Manus has formally resumed independent operations," the company said in a statement posted to its website.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
In November 1942, their required war service fulfilled, the friends returned to Munich, where they resumed their studies.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Talwani, in a ruling last week, criticized the Postal Service for resuming work on the project.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026
Meatpacking executives have said resuming the cattle trade was the fastest way to potentially lower beef prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Equally, a No vote would not rule out the chance of Iceland resuming talks in the future.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Edwin Díaz will be used in less-stressful situations upon his return from neck inflammation before potentially resuming closing responsibilities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
Before resuming the search I spat twice on my right palm and parted the spittle with my left forefinger, watching to see where the most spit went.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
