burnout
gb/bˈɚnˌaʊt/ us/bˈɚnˌaʊt/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
chronic stress exhaustion
Extreme tiredness and loss of energy caused by being stressed or working too hard for a long time.
Usage pattern:
burnout; burnout from [something]; burnout among [people]; experience/suffer from/recover from burnout
Common mistake:
For the stress condition, burnout is usually uncountable: say “suffer from burnout,” not “suffer from a burnout.” Use “burned out” for the adjective.
Synonyms
exhaustion (broader; can be temporary and not necessarily caused by long-term stress)
|
mental exhaustion (emphasizes the mental or emotional side of burnout)
|
compassion fatigue (specifically related to caring for or helping others)
Antonyms
well-being (a healthy, balanced state rather than an exhausted one)
|
engagement (energy and involvement, especially at work, rather than detachment and depletion)
Collocations
employee burnout
|job burnout
|burnout symptoms
|burnout prevention
|emotional burnout
|professional burnout
|experience burnout
|suffer from burnout
|recover from burnout
|signs of burnout
Themes
health
|mental_health
|work
|emotions
Examples
- After months of twelve-hour shifts, she started to show signs of burnout.
- The company introduced flexible schedules to reduce employee burnout.
- He took a leave of absence to recover from burnout.
Learner examples
- Long hours can cause burnout.
- She is recovering from burnout.
Noun
slang
C1
entity
2
exhausted or disengaged person
A rude or informal word for a person who has very little energy, motivation, or direction.
Usage pattern:
a burnout; [someone] is a burnout; burnouts
Common mistake:
This use can sound judgmental or insulting. It is different from the neutral health noun “burnout.”
Synonyms
underachiever (focuses on not achieving much, not necessarily on exhaustion)
|
washout (more strongly suggests failure after trying)
|
deadbeat (more insulting and suggests irresponsibility)
Antonyms
go-getter (an energetic, ambitious person)
|
achiever (someone who succeeds and stays motivated)
Collocations
a total burnout
|high-school burnout
|drug burnout
|feel like a burnout
|look like a burnout
Themes
people
|informal
|judgment
|mental_health
Examples
- By senior year he felt like a burnout who could barely finish his assignments.
- The film treats the town's burnouts with surprising sympathy.
- Don't call her a burnout just because she needs a break.
Learner examples
- He felt like a burnout after years of pressure.
- Be careful: “burnout” can sound rude when it means a person.
Noun
informal
C1
event
3
smoky tire-spinning maneuver
A car or motorcycle trick where the wheels spin fast and the tires may smoke.
Usage pattern:
do/perform a burnout; a burnout in [a vehicle]
Common mistake:
This meaning is a count noun: “do a burnout.” It is not related to feeling exhausted from stress.
Synonyms
wheelspin (refers to the spinning wheels, not necessarily the whole stunt)
|
donut (a different stunt where the vehicle spins in circles)
Antonyms
traction (grip on the road rather than wheels spinning freely)
Collocations
do a burnout
|perform a burnout
|smoky burnout
|tire burnout
|burnout contest
|burnout marks
|motorcycle burnout
Themes
vehicles
|motorsports
|hobbies
Examples
- The driver did a burnout before the race and filled the air with smoke.
- Police fined him for doing burnouts in the parking lot.
- The tires left dark burnout marks on the road.
Learner examples
- He did a burnout in his car.
- A burnout can damage the tires.
Noun
technical
C2
event
4
overheating equipment failure
Damage that happens when a motor, bulb, or electronic part gets too hot or overloaded and stops working.
Usage pattern:
[component] burnout; burnout of [a component]; prevent/cause burnout
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, people more often say a device “burned out.” “Burnout” as a noun is more technical.
Synonyms
failure (broader; does not specify overheating or overload)
|
overheating (usually the cause or process, not always the final failure)
|
short circuit (a specific electrical fault that may cause burnout)
Antonyms
normal operation (the part continues working correctly)
|
cooling (the process that prevents overheating and burnout)
Collocations
motor burnout
|component burnout
|bulb burnout
|coil burnout
|resistor burnout
|prevent burnout
|cause burnout
|risk of burnout
Themes
technology
|engineering
|maintenance
Examples
- The fan was added to prevent motor burnout.
- A power surge can cause burnout in sensitive components.
- Replace the resistor if you see signs of burnout.
Learner examples
- The old motor stopped because of burnout.
- Good cooling can prevent burnout.
Grammar
Dictionary form
burnout
IPA
GB/bˈɚnˌaʊt/
US/bˈɚnˌaʊt/
Syllables & stress
burnout (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (burnout)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: burnout
- Plural: burnout
Expressions
academic burnout
1/ˌækədˈɛmɪk bˈɚnˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
study-related chronic exhaustion
Burnout caused by too much school, study, or academic pressure.
Examples
- Many students reported academic burnout after months of online classes.
- The university added counseling services to address academic burnout.
- Constant exams and little sleep left him struggling with academic burnout.
autistic burnout
1/ɔtˈɪstɪk bˈɚnˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
autism-related severe exhaustion
Severe exhaustion that some autistic people experience after long periods of stress, masking, or sensory overload.
Examples
- After years of masking at work, she experienced autistic burnout.
- Autistic burnout can make everyday tasks much harder for a while.
- The therapist helped him reduce sensory stress during recovery from autistic burnout.
burnout culture
1/bˈɚnˌaʊt kˈʌlt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
culture of overwork
A culture where people are expected to work so much that they become exhausted.
Examples
- The startup tried to reject burnout culture by banning weekend messages.
- Critics say the industry rewards burnout culture and punishes people who set boundaries.
- She left a company where burnout culture was treated as normal.
caregiver burnout
1/kˈɛɹɡˌɪvɚ bˈɚnˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
exhaustion from caregiving
Extreme tiredness and stress in a person who cares for someone for a long time.
Examples
- Respite care can help prevent caregiver burnout.
- After caring for her father alone for a year, Maya began experiencing caregiver burnout.
- Support groups give families practical ways to manage caregiver burnout.
parental burnout
1/pɚˈɛntəl bˈɚnˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
exhaustion from parenting
Long-term exhaustion caused by the stress of parenting.
Examples
- Lack of sleep and constant pressure can contribute to parental burnout.
- The article offered practical advice for parents dealing with parental burnout.
- Single parents may face a higher risk of parental burnout when support is limited.
workplace burnout
1/wˈɚkplˌeɪs bˈɚnˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
business
job-related chronic exhaustion
Burnout that happens because of stress at work.
Examples
- Managers are being trained to recognize workplace burnout before employees quit.
- Heavy workloads and constant messages after hours can lead to workplace burnout.
- The survey found high levels of workplace burnout among nurses.