English Reference

Word

burnout

US/ˈbɝˌnaʊt/

UK/bˈɜːnaʊt/

Definition

n. a state of feeling completely exhausted because you have worked too hard for too long. It makes you feel like you have no energy or interest left for your job.

n. a state of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or overwork. Often involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and a loss of personal identity.

Examples

“Many nurses suffer from burnout after working long shifts.”

“The company introduced a four-day work week to help employees avoid burnout and improve their mental health.”

“Psychologists suggest that professional burnout is not merely the result of long hours, but also of a perceived lack of control over one's environment and insufficient rewards for effort.”

Examples

simple

“Many nurses suffer from burnout after working long shifts.”

contextual

“The company introduced a four-day work week to help employees avoid burnout and improve their mental health.”

complex

“Psychologists suggest that professional burnout is not merely the result of long hours, but also of a perceived lack of control over one's environment and insufficient rewards for effort.”

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'experience', 'suffer from', or 'prevent'.

Real-World Examples

“Overwork and burnout might even increase over the coming years.”
Phys.org · 3 Sept 2026
“Employees experiencing burnout are more likely to consider leaving their jobs.”
Phys.org · 16 Aug 2026

Etymology

Deverbal from burn out.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Psychology

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference