Word
burdened
Phoneticsbur·dened, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɝdənd/
UK/bˈɜːdənd/
Definition
adj. feeling very worried or tired because you have too much to deal with. You use this when a problem or a responsibility feels like a heavy weight you have to carry.
adj. oppressed by a heavy load, whether physical, emotional, or financial. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'seem' to describe a psychological state.
Examples
“She felt burdened by the secret she had to keep.”
“The young manager felt increasingly burdened by the responsibility of overseeing a team of fifty employees during the merger.”
“In the novel, the protagonist is perpetually burdened by the expectations of his family, which eventually forces him to choose between duty and his own happiness.”
Examples
simple
“She felt burdened by the secret she had to keep.”
contextual
“The young manager felt increasingly burdened by the responsibility of overseeing a team of fifty employees during the merger.”
complex
“In the novel, the protagonist is perpetually burdened by the expectations of his family, which eventually forces him to choose between duty and his own happiness.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'with' or 'by'.
Real-World Examples
“Leipzig warns that caregivers are often unaware of how burdened they are.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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