Pause vs. Resume — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 29, 2023
"Pause" means to temporarily stop, while "resume" means to continue after a stop.
Difference Between Pause and Resume
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
In everyday activities and tasks, one might often encounter the need to take a break or halt for a moment. This act of temporary cessation is termed as a pause. Be it during a conversation, a video playback, or even a work task, pausing provides an interim relief or interruption.
On the contrary, resume signifies the act of picking up where one left off. After any pause, be it short or prolonged, when activities or processes continue, they are said to resume. This term encapsulates the essence of continuation, making it opposite in nature to pausing.
For instance, during a musical performance, if a musician decides to take a short break in their rendition, they are taking a pause. The music halts for that duration. However, when they begin playing again, picking up the notes from where they left, they resume the performance.
In technology, especially in the realm of multimedia, the terms pause and resume frequently make their appearance. One might pause a movie to grab some popcorn, halting the playback. Upon their return, by pressing a button, they resume the movie, continuing from the exact moment they left off.
To draw a distinction, while pause connotes a temporary stop or break in a continuous activity, resume embodies the continuation or recommencement of that halted activity.
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Comparison Chart
Word Class
Verb/Noun
Verb/Noun
Meaning
Temporary stop or break
Continuation after a stop
Usage
Denotes a halt in action
Refers to the restart of an action
Temporal Aspect
Indicates a present or imminent stop
Implies a future or imminent continuation
Oppositeness
Contrary to continuation
Contrary to cessation
Compare with Definitions
Pause
A temporary stop or rest.
Let's take a short pause and then continue.
Resume
To begin again or continue after a pause or interruption.
After the rain stopped, the game resumed.
Pause
An interruption or break in activity.
There was a pause in the conversation.
Resume
A brief account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications.
She handed her resume to the interviewer.
Pause
A control on an electronic device to halt playback.
I hit the pause button during the movie.
Resume
To take up or return to a previous activity.
He resumed his studies after a long break.
Pause
A momentary hesitation or doubt.
He spoke without pause for an hour.
Resume
To return to or recover a previous state.
Normal services will resume shortly.
Pause
To cease or suspend an action temporarily
She paused in her piano exercises to listen for the baby.
Resume
Begin again or continue after a pause or interruption
A day later normal service was resumed
The talks resumed in April
Pause
To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.
Resume
To summarise.
Pause
A stop in speech or verse.
The poem has a pause after the third line.
Resume
To assume, take, or occupy again
The dog resumed its post by the door.
Pause
Interrupt action or speech briefly
She paused, at a loss for words
Resume
To take on or take back again
Resumed my original name.
Pause
A temporary stop in action or speech
She dropped me outside during a brief pause in the rain
He chattered away without pause
Resume
To enter upon, or take up again.
Reason resumed her place, and Passion fled.
Pause
To hesitate
He paused before replying.
Resume
To begin again; to recommence, as something which has been interrupted; as, to resume an argument or discourse.
Pause
A break or rest in a line of poetry; a caesura.
Resume
To recommence or restart.
The discussions will resume tomorrow.
Pause
A control mechanism on an audio or video player that halts the playing of a recording and permits playing to be easily resumed from the same point.
Resume
A brief account of one's professional or work experience and qualifications, often submitted with an employment application.
Pause
A break or paragraph in writing.
Resume
A summary
A résumé of the facts of the case.
Pause
(music) A sign indicating continuance of a note or rest.
Resume
To begin or take up again after interruption
Resumed our dinner.
Pause
Alternative spelling of Pause
Resume
To begin again or continue after interruption.
Pause
Take pause: hesitate; give pause: cause to hesitate
Resume
To take back possession of (something).
Pause
A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
Resume
A summary or synopsis.
Pause
Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence; doubt.
I stand in pause where I shall first begin.
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).
Pause
In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts.
Resume
A summing up; a condensed statement; an abridgment or brief recapitulation.
The exellent little résumé thereof in Dr. Landsborough's book.
Pause
In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation point; as, teach the pupil to mind the pauses.
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.
Pause
A break or paragraph in writing.
He writes with warmth, which usually neglects method, and those partitions and pauses which men educated in schools observe.
Resume
Short descriptive summary (of events)
Pause
A hold. See 4th Hold, 7.
Resume
A summary of your academic and work history
Pause
To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest.
Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused.
Resume
Take up or begin anew;
We resumed the negotiations
Pause
To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses.
Resume
Return to a previous location or condition;
The painting resumed its old condition when we restored it
Pause
To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect.
Resume
Assume anew;
Resume a title
Resume an office
Resume one's duties
Pause
To cause to stop or rest; - used reflexively.
Resume
Give a summary (of);
He summed up his results
I will now summarize
Pause
A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
Resume
A summary
I gave him a quick résumé of events
Pause
Temporary inactivity
Resume
Another term for curriculum vitae
Pause
Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing;
The speaker paused
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.
Pause
Cease an action temporarily;
We pause for station identification
Let's break for lunch
Resume
(intransitive) To start again after an interruption or pause.
Normal service has resumed.
Pause
To linger; tarry
We paused for a while under the huge oak tree.
Pause
To cease or suspend the action of temporarily; stop for an interim
Paused the printer to add more paper.
Paused the DVD with the remote.
Pause
A break, stop, or rest, often for a calculated purpose or effect
After a dramatic pause, the lawyer finished her summation.
Pause
A delay or suspended reaction, as from uncertainty; a hesitation
After a pause the audience broke into cheers.
Pause
Delay or hesitation
Spoke without pause for an hour.
Pause
Reason for hesitation
The immensity of the task gives one pause.
Pause
(Music) A sign, such as a fermata, indicating that a note or rest is to be held.
Pause
(intransitive) To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
Pause
(intransitive) To interrupt an activity and wait.
When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.
Pause
(intransitive) To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
Pause
(transitive) To halt the play or playback of, temporarily, so that it can be resumed from the same point.
To pause a song, a video, or a computer game
Pause
To consider; to reflect.
Pause
A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
Pause
A short time for relaxing and doing something else.
Pause
Hesitation; suspense; doubt.
Pause
In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation mark.
Teach the pupil to mind the pauses.
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to pause a game?
It means to temporarily stop the game, usually by pressing a specific button.
Do "pause" and "stop" mean the same thing?
No, while "pause" implies a temporary halt, "stop" might suggest a more permanent end.
If a meeting is paused, does it mean it's over?
No, it means the meeting is temporarily halted and will continue later.
Is a "pause" always intentional?
Not always, sometimes pauses happen due to external factors or interruptions.
What's the opposite of "resume" in the context of stopping and starting?
The opposite would be "pause" or "halt".
Can activities resume after a long pause?
Yes, activities can resume after both short and long pauses.
Is pausing always short-term?
Not necessarily, a pause can be short or long, but it implies an intention to continue.
Can "resume" also refer to a document?
Yes, a "resume" can refer to a document listing one's qualifications and work history.
Can "resume" be used as a noun and verb?
Yes, as a verb it means to continue; as a noun, it's a document of one's qualifications.
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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.
