burn·out
ˈbərn-ˌau̇t 
1
: the cessation of operation usually of a jet or rocket engine
also
: the point at which burnout occurs
2
a
: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration
b
: a person suffering from burnout
3
: a person showing the effects of drug abuse
burned out or burnt out; burning out; burns out
1
: to drive out or destroy the property of by fire
2
: to cause to fail, wear out, or become exhausted especially from overwork or overuse
: to suffer burnout
Synonyms
Examples of burnout in a Sentence
Noun
Teaching can be very stressful, and many teachers eventually suffer burnout.
the burnout rate among teachers
a novel about academic burnouts
Verb
working 12-hour days at that job just burned me out
Recent Examples on the Web
Dr. Samantha Madhosingh, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Also, mindfulness exercises, like meditation and breathing work, can effectively reduce the impact of stress from holiday shopping and help decrease burnout or fatigue.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Nov. 2023
The burnout isn’t just at the studio level: Visual effects (VFX) artists who work on Marvel productions say they are drained by the long hours to meet difficult deadlines.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The pressure on in-store pharmacists and technicians has led to a series of walkouts this fall by CVS and Walgreens employees who say tight staffing has caused burnout and threatened patients' safety.
—Arthur Allen, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
Since the pandemic laid bare the nation’s worsening childcare crisis, Clinton says that addressing caregiver burnout and parental anxiety is ingrained in their model and that telehealth can be a hallmark solution.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 13 Nov. 2023
Prioritizing tasks, setting boundaries and learning to delegate effectively can help optimize productivity and prevent burnout.
—Dr. Rick Ruperto, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Eliminate Productivity Quotas Harvesting a huge amount of nectar per hour can cause mass burnout.
—Sólveig Eva Magnúsdóttir, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2023
Those who felt supported by their management reported feeling less burnout, per the agency.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023
Chloe Berger, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
Countless chefs have come and gone; residencies have started and ended; a billion light bulbs have burned out and been replaced.
—Brett Martin, Bon Appétit, 8 Nov. 2023
Trending News TikTok ending $1 billion Creator Fund Some bank customers still can't get their paychecks after deposit glitch
Multiple brands of dog food recalled as FDA warns of salmonella risks
Tyson recalls nearly 30,000 pounds of dino chicken nuggets
Are Americans burned out on dating apps?
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2023
Gallup surveyed over 18,000 workers and found that 33% of women are almost always burned out, right now.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2023
You can get burned out on a computer screen pretty quickly.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 12 Oct. 2023
Many of the workers who remain feel burned out and are struggling to handle a higher volume of patients.
—Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023
Cars were flattened and trees burned out in moonscapes that had been residential streets.
—TIME, 10 Oct. 2023
That being said, the ups and downs may leave you feeling burnt out, so try to check in with yourself throughout the day.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
See More
Noun
Whether an employee is dealing with burnout, family issues, health concerns, or external stresses, a leader's empathy can make a significant difference.
—Dr. Samantha Madhosingh, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Also, mindfulness exercises, like meditation and breathing work, can effectively reduce the impact of stress from holiday shopping and help decrease burnout or fatigue.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Nov. 2023
The burnout isn’t just at the studio level: Visual effects (VFX) artists who work on Marvel productions say they are drained by the long hours to meet difficult deadlines.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The pressure on in-store pharmacists and technicians has led to a series of walkouts this fall by CVS and Walgreens employees who say tight staffing has caused burnout and threatened patients' safety.
—Arthur Allen, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
Since the pandemic laid bare the nation’s worsening childcare crisis, Clinton says that addressing caregiver burnout and parental anxiety is ingrained in their model and that telehealth can be a hallmark solution.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 13 Nov. 2023
Prioritizing tasks, setting boundaries and learning to delegate effectively can help optimize productivity and prevent burnout.
—Dr. Rick Ruperto, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Eliminate Productivity Quotas Harvesting a huge amount of nectar per hour can cause mass burnout.
—Sólveig Eva Magnúsdóttir, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2023
Those who felt supported by their management reported feeling less burnout, per the agency.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023
Verb
Many essential employees became burned out, quit, or demanded better pay and a better quality of life.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
Countless chefs have come and gone; residencies have started and ended; a billion light bulbs have burned out and been replaced.
—Brett Martin, Bon Appétit, 8 Nov. 2023
Trending News TikTok ending $1 billion Creator Fund Some bank customers still can't get their paychecks after deposit glitch
Multiple brands of dog food recalled as FDA warns of salmonella risks
Tyson recalls nearly 30,000 pounds of dino chicken nuggets
Are Americans burned out on dating apps?
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2023
Gallup surveyed over 18,000 workers and found that 33% of women are almost always burned out, right now.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2023
You can get burned out on a computer screen pretty quickly.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 12 Oct. 2023
Many of the workers who remain feel burned out and are struggling to handle a higher volume of patients.
—Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023
Cars were flattened and trees burned out in moonscapes that had been residential streets.
—TIME, 10 Oct. 2023
That being said, the ups and downs may leave you feeling burnt out, so try to check in with yourself throughout the day.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'burnout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1710, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near burnout
Cite this Entry
“Burnout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burnout. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
burnout
1 of 2 noun
burn·out
ˈbər-ˌnau̇t
1
: the ending of operation of a jet or rocket engine as a result of the using up or shutting off of fuel
2
: the point in a flight at which burnout occurs
3
: exhaustion of one's bodily or mental strength
burn out
2 of 2 verb1
: to drive out or destroy the property of by fire
2
: to cause to wear out or become exhausted
Medical Definition
burnout
noun
burn·out
ˈbərn-ˌau̇t
1
a
: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration
b
: a person affected with burnout
2
: a person showing the effects of drug abuse
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