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
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:
At the same time, the longer officials wait to resume debt collections, the harder the task becomes, as more people miss payments and default on their loans.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2026
His comments echoed early statements to CNN over the weekend when he said it was "highly unlikely" fighting would resume.
From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026
Her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, is a television writer and producer, with a resume stacked with popular shows including “Modern Family” and “30 Rock.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2026
There had been mounting speculation that the US might resume significant strikes in Iran after the midterm elections, though Trump told reporters, prior to the polls, that he was in "no rush" to do so.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026
Lately she had begun talking of returning one day to Dwight to resume her work for Dr. Keeley.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Mr. Leribault, a 63-year-old French art historian with a background in Rococo painting, comes to the job with what might seem like the ideal résumé.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
If you are the chef at your company, eat the fruit and update your résumé.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Edwards, the Northeastern law student, didn’t feel right using the firm’s name on a résumé without ever filing a time sheet there.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
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
The first link was to a Harvard University page for a Professor Susan Thomas who worked in the math department, and below that was a résumé website for the same person.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
United fans will presumably be relieved when the football resumes on Saturday, if only to break up the constant stream of opinion for 90 minutes.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Tehran has long promised retaliation if the U.S. resumes attacks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 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
Then she resumes the tour: “Sunken living room. Greenhouse adjoining the dining area. And, as you can see, the house is well supplied with windows.”
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
BBC Sport Wales analyses what went right and wrong for Wales as the Nations Championship resumed.
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026
The A7 documents show ZCCB’s links to Russia resumed in 2024, although indirectly, through front companies and banks in countries such as Kyrgyzstan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Carlos Cancinos, spokesperson for the Coop chain in Sweden, said that the group's seven affected shops had resumed "normal functioning".
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026
One-third of the increase in job openings was in state and local government — mostly in education, as school resumed.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Dust clouds bloomed around the mining robot as he resumed working.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
Their embryos can stop developing and remain dormant in damp mud, resuming development when seasonal rains refill the pools.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2026
Tehran is currently awaiting Washington’s response to its plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which also includes resuming talks about the country’s nuclear program.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
The company said its next goal is resuming withdrawal services for users, saying it remained on track to reopen withdrawals on Sunday 1 November and would provide a further update once details were confirmed.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
Kim also added that the North is reviewing "resuming the loudspeaker broadcasting against the ROK and considering other necessary and appropriate measures".
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
“Hepzibah Smith died two days after that little scene,” said Dumbledore, resuming his seat and indicating that Harry should do the same.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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