Continue vs. Resume — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
Continue means to persist in an activity or process. Resume implies starting again after a pause or interruption.
Difference Between Continue and Resume
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Continue and Resume are both verbs in the English language that relate to the progression of an action or event. However, their uses can differ. Continue generally indicates the ongoing nature of an action. For instance, if one continues to read, they never stopped reading in the first place.
Resume, on the other hand, suggests that there was an initial action, followed by an interruption, and then a return to that action. So, if someone resumes reading, it implies they had stopped reading for some reason, and now they've started again.
In daily conversations, when someone says, "Continue with your story," they are asking the person to keep going without assuming there was a significant break. Conversely, if someone says, "Resume your story," it may hint that there was a notable pause or distraction that interrupted the narrative.
In professional settings, Continue might be used to denote the progression of a task without significant breaks or deviations. For example, a project that continues as planned. On the other hand, Resume could be used in contexts like returning to work after a vacation or a hiatus.
Lastly, there are unique contexts where each word finds its place. "Continue" can be seen on signs on the road, indicating drivers should move forward. In contrast, "Resume" is also a noun referring to a document outlining one's professional experience and qualifications.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Basic Meaning
Persisting in an action or process.
Starting again after a pause or interruption.
Interruption
Implies no or minimal interruption.
Indicates a notable break or pause.
Use in Narration
Ongoing nature of an event or story.
Returning to a story after a diversion.
Professional Context
Progression without significant breaks.
Return to a task after a hiatus.
Alternative Meaning
None.
Also a noun: document of qualifications.
Compare with Definitions
Continue
To persist in an action or process.
They continue to amaze me with their talent.
Resume
To begin again after stopping.
The players resumed the game after halftime.
Continue
To extend in a particular direction.
The road continues for another ten miles.
Resume
To return to a previous state or activity.
She resumed her position at the head of the table.
Continue
To remain in a particular state or condition.
The weather is expected to continue warm.
Resume
To take up or go on with again.
Let's resume our discussion later.
Continue
To proceed with a particular action after a pause.
She took a sip of water and continued speaking.
Resume
A document detailing one's professional qualifications.
I submitted my resume for the job application.
Continue
To go on with a particular action or in a particular condition; persist
We continued until the job was finished.
Resume
To reclaim or retake.
He resumed his place at the front of the line.
Continue
To exist over a period; last
The meeting continued for another hour.
Resume
Begin again or continue after a pause or interruption
A day later normal service was resumed
The talks resumed in April
Continue
To remain in the same state, capacity, or place
She continued as mayor for a second term.
Resume
A summary
I gave him a quick résumé of events
Continue
To go on after an interruption; resume
The negotiations continued after a break for dinner.
Resume
Another term for curriculum vitae
Continue
To extend in a given direction
The stream continues for another five miles before it reaches the lake.
Resume
A brief account of one's professional or work experience and qualifications, often submitted with an employment application.
Continue
To carry on; persist in
The police will continue their investigation. I continued reading all afternoon.
Resume
A summary
A résumé of the facts of the case.
Continue
To carry further in time, space, or development; extend
The builder will continue the road right through the swamp.
Resume
To begin or take up again after interruption
Resumed our dinner.
Continue
To cause to remain or last; retain or maintain
Are you continuing the prescription? The team continued its dominance over its opponents.
Resume
To assume, take, or occupy again
The dog resumed its post by the door.
Continue
To carry on after an interruption; resume
After a break for lunch, we continued our hike.
Resume
To take on or take back again
Resumed my original name.
Continue
(Law) To postpone or adjourn.
Resume
To begin again or continue after interruption.
Continue
(transitive) To proceed with doing an activity; to prolong an activity.
Shall I continue speaking, or will you just interrupt me again?
Do you want me to continue to unload these?
Resume
To take back possession of (something).
Continue
(transitive) To make last; to prolong.
Resume
To summarise.
Continue
(transitive) To retain someone or something in a given state, position, etc.
Resume
(transitive) To start (something) again that has been stopped or paused from the point at which it was stopped or paused; continue, carry on.
We will resume this discussion tomorrow at nine.
Continue
To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.
Resume
(intransitive) To start again after an interruption or pause.
Normal service has resumed.
Continue
(intransitive) To resume.
When will the concert continue?
Resume
A summary or synopsis.
Continue
To adjourn, prorogue, put off.
This meeting has been continued to the thirteenth of July.
Resume
A summary or account of education and employment experiences and qualifications; a curriculum vitae (often for presentation to a potential future employer when applying for a job).
Continue
(poker slang) To make a continuation bet.
Resume
A summing up; a condensed statement; an abridgment or brief recapitulation.
The exellent little résumé thereof in Dr. Landsborough's book.
Continue
(video games) An option allowing the player to resume play after game over, when all lives have been lost, while retaining their progress.
Resume
To take back.
The sun, like this, from which our sight we have,Gazed on too long, resumes the light he gave.
Perhaps God will resume the blessing he has bestowed ere he attains the age of manhood.
Continue
To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.
Here to continue, and build up hereA growing empire.
They continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.
Resume
To enter upon, or take up again.
Reason resumed her place, and Passion fled.
Continue
To be permanent or durable; to endure; to last.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue.
Resume
To begin again; to recommence, as something which has been interrupted; as, to resume an argument or discourse.
Continue
To be steadfast or constant in any course; to persevere; to abide; to endure; to persist; to keep up or maintain a particular condition, course, or series of actions; as, the army continued to advance.
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
Resume
Short descriptive summary (of events)
Continue
To unite; to connect.
The use of the navel is to continue the infant unto the mother.
Resume
A summary of your academic and work history
Continue
To protract or extend in duration; to preserve or persist in; to cease not.
O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee.
You know how to make yourself happy by only continuing such a life as you have been long accustomed to lead.
Resume
Take up or begin anew;
We resumed the negotiations
Continue
To carry onward or extend; to prolong or produce; to add to or draw out in length.
A bridge of wond'rous length,From hell continued, reaching th' utmost orbof this frail world.
Resume
Return to a previous location or condition;
The painting resumed its old condition when we restored it
Continue
To retain; to suffer or cause to remain; as, the trustees were continued; also, to suffer to live.
And how shall we continue Claudio.
Resume
Assume anew;
Resume a title
Resume an office
Resume one's duties
Continue
Continue a certain state, condition, or activity;
Keep on working!
We continued to work into the night
Keep smiling
We went on working until well past midnight
Resume
Give a summary (of);
He summed up his results
I will now summarize
Continue
Continue with one's activities;
I know it's hard,
But there is no choice
Carry on--pretend we are not in the room
Continue
Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last;
Preserve the peace in the family
Continue the family tradition
Carry on the old traditions
Continue
Move ahead; travel onward in time or space;
We proceeded towards Washington
She continued in the direction of the hills
We are moving ahead in time now
Continue
Allow to remain in a place or position;
We cannot continue several servants any longer
She retains a lawyer
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
We kept the work going as long as we could
Continue
Carry forward;
We continued our research into the cause of the illness
Continue
Continue after an interruption;
The demonstration continued after a break for lunch
Continue
Continue in a place, position, or situation;
After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
Stay with me, please
Despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
She continued as deputy mayor for another year
Continue
Exist over a prolonged period of time;
The bad weather continued for two more weeks
Continue
To last or endure.
The festival continues for two more days.
Common Curiosities
Does resume always indicate a break?
As a verb, resume suggests a return to an action after a pause. But as a noun, it's a document of qualifications.
Can continue and resume be used interchangeably?
Not always. While both relate to progression, continue denotes ongoing action, and resume indicates a return after a pause.
Does every resume indicate a long break?
Not necessarily. A resume implies a return after some pause, but the length of the pause can vary.
What's the opposite of continue?
The opposite of continue could be "halt" or "stop."
Can a movie resume?
Yes, if a movie is paused, it can be resumed or started again from where it was paused.
Is continue always about ongoing actions?
Primarily, yes. Continue typically denotes the persistence of an action without significant interruption.
In a professional context, what's a resume?
A resume is a document detailing one's professional experience, qualifications, and skills.
Can you continue a resume?
In writing or updating, yes. You can continue (or proceed with) creating or editing your resume.
Is there an adverb form of continue?
Yes, "continuously" means happening without interruption.
Is continue always about movement?
No, continue can also indicate persisting in a state, like "continue to be happy."
What might interrupt an action that later resumes?
Breaks, distractions, or external events can interrupt actions that may later resume.
Can a journey continue?
Yes, journeys can continue if they persist without reaching their destination.
Does resume have a French origin?
Yes, "resume" derives from the French "résumer," meaning to summarize or start again.
Is there a synonym for resume?
As a verb, "restart" or "recommence." As a noun, "CV" or "curriculum vitae."
What does it mean to continue forward?
It means to proceed or move ahead without changing direction or stopping.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Eggetarian vs. Vegetarian
Next Comparison
Porridge vs. GruelAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
