burnout

1 of 2

noun

burn·​out ˈbərn-ˌau̇t How to pronounce burnout (audio)
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

burn out

2 of 2

verb

burned out or burnt out; burning out; burns out

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to suffer burnout

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
Noun
Which is why Private Equity, the memoir of former hedge fund executive assistant Carrie Sun, is making waves for its entertaining and exhaustive detailing of the ins-and-outs of assistant work, and the intense burnout Sun dealt with along the way. Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024 Too few breaks from work can cause burnout, fatigue, poor morale and lower job satisfaction. Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 While remote employees tend to be more productive than their in-office counterparts, burnout is a potential downside. Ebony Flake, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024 Reports also show that women are facing alarmingly high levels of burnout, that have been disproportionately higher than men—a gap that has more than doubled since 2019. Natasha Pearlman, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2024 Eliminating breaks increases the chance of injuries and burnout. Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 4 Mar. 2024 Whether pacing your study, focusing on MCQs, or integrating study into your daily routine, the key is to stay disciplined, avoid burnout, and remember that understanding the material is more crucial than memorizing it. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024 But in the year and a half since social-distancing orders were lifted, labor conditions for many workers have remained just as precarious, and a spate of recent projects seem to be asking, What happens after burnout? Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Although initially known as a workplace term, burnout can apply to personal aspects of your life. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
After three days of unproductive labor ending in an emergency C-section, I was too burned out to try to sleep train a newborn. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 12 Mar. 2024 Hoosiers who want legal weed Hoosiers hoping for more progress on marijuana legalization saw momentum burn out in the Statehouse this year. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024 Fueled by the dry conditions and searing temperatures, many of these fires burn out of control, spreading miles beyond the area that was originally set ablaze. Manuela Andreoni, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Rationale/Role: People can get burned out by too much repetition of a message. Bob Pearson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Wildfires burning out of control in the Texas Panhandle have left a path of devastation, with up to 500 structures destroyed as of Friday and ranchers facing crippling losses of cattle and grazing lands. J. David Goodman, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 According to recent studies, more than one out of every two employees feel burnt out. Ryan Derousseau, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Officials have shut down roads and evacuated residents from their homes as a cluster of fires burns out of control and threatens rural towns. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2024 As a result, not only can quality be compromised, but veteran staff burn out faster than the department can hire new talent. Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of burnout was in 1710

Dictionary Entries Near burnout

Cite this Entry

“Burnout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burnout. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

burnout

1 of 2 noun
burn·​out ˈbər-ˌnau̇t How to pronounce burnout (audio)
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 verb
1
: 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 How to pronounce burnout (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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