resume
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to take up or go on with again after interruption; continue.
to resume a journey.
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to take or occupy again.
to resume one's seat.
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to take or assume use or practice of again.
to resume her maiden name.
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to take back.
to resume the title to a property.
verb (used without object)
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to go on or continue after interruption.
The dancing is about to resume.
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to begin again.
noun
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a brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job.
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a summing up; summary.
verb
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to begin again or go on with (something adjourned or interrupted)
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(tr) to occupy again, take back, or recover
to resume one's seat
to resume possession
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(tr) to assume (a title, office, etc) again
to resume the presidency
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archaic to summarize; make a résumé of
noun
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a short descriptive summary, as of events
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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
- resumable adjective
- resumer noun
- unresumed adjective
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”; re-, consume
Origin of resume2
First recorded in 1795–1805; from French résumé, noun use of past participle of résumer “to sum up”
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.
The hearing over the matter, which deeply divides public opinion in the Muslim-majority country, will resume on Monday.
From Barron's
Soon, two major TV station groups announced that they were pulling Kimmel’s show, although both reinstated the program several days after ABC resumed production.
From Los Angeles Times
A short hearing in the case against Mr Williams was adjourned at Cambridge Crown Court earlier this month and proceedings are due to resume on 28 January 2026.
From BBC
With the Federal Reserve having resumed cutting short-term interest rates, a 4% dividend yield for a stock is looking more attractive by the day when compared with bank or money-market fund yields.
From MarketWatch
With the Federal Reserve having resumed cutting short-term interest rates, a 4% dividend yield for a stock is looking more attractive by the day when compared with bank or money-market fund yields.
From MarketWatch
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.
