Difference Wiki

Pause vs. Resume: What's the Difference?

Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 6, 2023
Pause means to temporarily stop or halt; Resume means to continue or restart after a stoppage.

Key Differences

Pause refers to a temporary cessation or interruption in an activity, action, or process. Resume, conversely, denotes the act of beginning again or continuing an activity after it has been paused or interrupted.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023
The word Pause emphasizes a momentary break or halt, suggesting a need to stop for various reasons. Resume, in contrast, focuses on the recommencement, emphasizing the continuity or return to the original activity.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023
For instance, in a music player, the pause button will halt the song, allowing listeners a moment of silence. The resume function, however, would allow the song to continue from where it was paused, providing continuity.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023
Both Pause and Resume find usage across different contexts, from media playback to real-life scenarios. While you might pause a conversation to gather your thoughts, you would resume the conversation once you're ready to proceed.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Comparison Chart

Definition

Temporary stop or halt
Continue or restart after a stoppage
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023
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Grammatical Function

Verb (primarily), Noun
Verb (primarily), Noun
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Oct 06, 2023

Opposite Action

Stops or interrupts
Restarts or continues
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Oct 06, 2023

Contextual Application

Implies a break in continuity
Implies a return to continuity
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Example of Usage

Pause a video
Resume a video from where it was paused
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Pause and Resume Definitions

Pause

A control on a device that halts its function.
Press pause on the remote.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023
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Resume

To return to or recover a previous state or practice.
He resumed his studies after a year's break.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Pause

To cease or suspend an action temporarily
She paused in her piano exercises to listen for the baby.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To bring back to attention or discussion.
Let's resume our discussion on the topic.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Pause

To hesitate
He paused before replying.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

A brief account of one's professional or work experience and qualifications.
I sent my resume to the hiring manager.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023
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Pause

To linger; tarry
We paused for a while under the huge oak tree.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

A brief account of one's professional or work experience and qualifications, often submitted with an employment application.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

A summary
A résumé of the facts of the case.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A break, stop, or rest, often for a calculated purpose or effect
After a dramatic pause, the lawyer finished her summation.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To begin or take up again after interruption
Resumed our dinner.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A delay or suspended reaction, as from uncertainty; a hesitation
After a pause the audience broke into cheers.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To assume, take, or occupy again
The dog resumed its post by the door.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

Delay or hesitation
Spoke without pause for an hour.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To take on or take back again
Resumed my original name.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

Reason for hesitation
The immensity of the task gives one pause.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To begin again or continue after interruption.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

(Music) A sign, such as a fermata, indicating that a note or rest is to be held.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To take back possession of (something).
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A break or rest in a line of poetry; a caesura.
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Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To summarise.
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Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

(intransitive) To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

(intransitive) To start again after an interruption or pause.
Normal service has resumed.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

(intransitive) To interrupt an activity and wait.
When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

A summary or synopsis.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

(intransitive) To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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).
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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
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Nov 30, 2022

Resume

A summing up; a condensed statement; an abridgment or brief recapitulation.
The exellent little résumé thereof in Dr. Landsborough's book.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

To consider; to reflect.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To enter upon, or take up again.
Reason resumed her place, and Passion fled.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A short time for relaxing and doing something else.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To begin again; to recommence, as something which has been interrupted; as, to resume an argument or discourse.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

Hesitation; suspense; doubt.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

Short descriptive summary (of events)
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

A summary of your academic and work history
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A break or paragraph in writing.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

Take up or begin anew;
We resumed the negotiations
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Nov 30, 2022

Pause

(music) A sign indicating continuance of a note or rest.
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Nov 30, 2022

Resume

Return to a previous location or condition;
The painting resumed its old condition when we restored it
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Nov 30, 2022

Pause

Alternative spelling of Pause
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Nov 30, 2022

Resume

Assume anew;
Resume a title
Resume an office
Resume one's duties
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Pause

Take pause: hesitate; give pause: cause to hesitate
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Nov 30, 2022

Resume

Give a summary (of);
He summed up his results
I will now summarize
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To begin again or continue after an interruption.
After the interruption, the speaker resumed his speech.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Pause

Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence; doubt.
I stand in pause where I shall first begin.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Resume

To take up or occupy again.
She resumed her seat after standing.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

Pause

In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A hold. See 4th Hold, 7.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect.
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Nov 30, 2022

Pause

To cause to stop or rest; - used reflexively.
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Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

Temporary inactivity
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing;
The speaker paused
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

Cease an action temporarily;
We pause for station identification
Let's break for lunch
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 30, 2022

Pause

A temporary stop or break in continuity.
Let's take a pause before we continue.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Pause

A momentary cessation of an activity.
He took a pause to drink water.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Pause

An interruption or disruption.
The rain caused a pause in the game.
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Oct 06, 2023

Pause

A brief silence or interval in speech or music.
There was a pause before the applause.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

FAQs

How is Resume related to Pause?

Resume means to continue or restart an activity after it has been paused.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Why would one need to pause an activity?

Reasons can vary, from needing a break to interruptions.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Can Pause also be a noun?

Yes, e.g., "There was a brief pause in the conversation."
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

In media players, what's the difference between Pause and Resume?

Pause halts playback; Resume continues it from the point it was halted.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

Does Resume only relate to paused activities?

No, Resume can also mean to continue activities that were stopped for other reasons.
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023

Can a machine pause its operations?

Yes, many machines have pause functions for various reasons.
Janet White
Oct 06, 2023

What does Pause imply on its own?

Pause implies a temporary stop or break in an activity.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Can Pause and Resume be used interchangeably?

No, Pause indicates a stop, while Resume denotes a continuation.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

How is Resume used in job applications?

It refers to a document listing one's qualifications and experience.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Is Resume only a verb?

No, it's also a noun referring to a summary of qualifications and experience.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Is there a time limit to how long something can be paused?

No, something can be paused briefly or for extended periods.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Do Pause and Resume have synonyms?

Yes. For Pause: halt, stop. For Resume: continue, restart.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Can a conversation be resumed?

Yes, after a break or interruption, a conversation can be resumed.
Harlon Moss
Oct 06, 2023

Can you resume something without pausing it first?

Typically, no. Resume implies a prior stoppage, but the stop might not always be a "pause."
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023

What's a common context for using Resume outside of pausing?

Job applications, where it refers to a document listing qualifications and experience.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023

Are Pause and Resume opposites?

In many contexts, yes. Pause stops, and Resume continues.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Can activities always be resumed from where they were paused?

Not always; it depends on the activity and context.
Sara Rehman
Oct 06, 2023

Is "unpause" a synonym for Resume?

Informally, yes, especially in media contexts.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Why might one resume a previous activity?

Reasons could include renewed interest, necessity, or completion.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 06, 2023

Is a "pause" always noticeable?

Not necessarily; some pauses are brief or subtle.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 06, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera Saeed
Sumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.

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