# workload

/ˈwɝˌkɫoʊd/ (US) · /wˈɜːkləʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/workload
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. tasks for a person

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the amount of work you are expected to finish in a day, week, or month.

For teachers: the quantity of work assigned to or expected from a particular worker or team.

- The manager promised to hire more staff to help reduce our heavy workload.
- The university implemented a new policy to monitor staff workload, ensuring that research and teaching responsibilities remained balanced throughout the semester.

Usage: Often used with verbs like 'manage', 'increase', or 'reduce'.

Teaching tip: In professional contexts, this often implies the pressure or stress caused by having too much to do.

### 2. computing/machines

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the amount of processing or data a computer or machine is handling.

For teachers: the amount of processing or computational tasks being performed by a system or network.

- The server crashed because the workload was too high during the sale.
- Cloud engineers use auto-scaling to ensure that the infrastructure can handle a sudden spike in the application's workload without any downtime.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of cloud computing and server management.

## Examples

- I have a heavy workload this week because of the new project.
- The department hired two new assistants to help manage the increasing workload during the peak season.
- Effective management requires a careful balancing of the team's workload to prevent burnout while ensuring that all project milestones are met on schedule.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.