resumption
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The act of starting something again after a pause or interruption.
The action of taking back or reclaiming something, especially land or rights (archaic/legal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly refers to the restarting of an activity, process, or state. Implies a previous existence or occurrence that was halted. Not typically used for the beginning of something entirely new.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Slightly more common in British administrative and political contexts (e.g., 'resumption of sittings' in Parliament).
Connotations
Neutral in both variants; carries a formal, procedural connotation.
Frequency
Low frequency in casual speech in both regions. More frequent in written, official, journalistic, and academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[the] resumption of [noun (activity/process)]call for a resumptionlead to a resumptiondate of resumptionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for restarting negotiations, trading, production, or services after a break (e.g., 'The resumption of deliveries is scheduled for Monday.').
Academic
Common in history/political science to describe the restarting of conflicts, dialogues, or eras (e.g., 'the resumption of monarchical rule').
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used for formal notices (e.g., 'Resumption of normal train service...').
Technical
Used in computing for process resumption, in law for resumption of a trial, and in medicine for resumption of cardiac activity.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee will resume its deliberations tomorrow.
- She resumed her seat after the applause.
American English
- The court will resume the hearing next week.
- He resumed work after his medical leave.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'again' or 'anew'.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'once more' or 'following resumption'.
adjective
British English
- The resumption talks are ongoing.
- A resumption date has yet to be fixed.
American English
- The resumption agenda is packed.
- No resumption plans have been announced.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The resumption of the football match was delayed by rain.
- We hope for a quick resumption of normal life after the storm.
- The ceasefire was fragile, and any resumption of violence would be catastrophic.
- The resumption of direct flights between the capitals boosted tourism.
- The diplomat's primary objective was to engineer a resumption of bilateral talks without either side losing face.
- Archaeological evidence points to a sudden resumption of trade routes following the political settlement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-start + asSUMPTION (taking up again). After the interruption, they made the assumption to start up again.
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOURNEY RESUMED (e.g., 'We are back on the road after the detour.'), A FLOW RESTORED (e.g., 'The stream of communication began again.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'возобновление' for trivial, everyday restarts (e.g., restarting a movie). 'Resumption' is more formal. For 'возобновление в должности', use 'reinstatement'. For software 'resume', use 'возобновить/продолжить'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for a first-time start (incorrect: 'the resumption of my new job'). Confusing with 'consumption' or 'assumption'. Overusing in informal contexts where 'restart' or 'continue' is better.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'resumption' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are synonyms, but 'resumption' is more formal and often implies the continuation of an official, established, or larger-scale process.
No. The verb form is 'to resume'. 'Resumption' is only a noun.
It is redundant but sometimes heard in casual speech. 'Resume' already means 'to start again', so 'start again again' is implied. In formal writing, use only 'resume'.
The most common preposition is 'of', as in 'resumption of work'. You can also use 'after' (after the resumption) or 'before' (before the resumption).
Explore