burnout

    nounBand 8informal

    UKˈbɜːnaʊt
    USˈbɜːrˌnaʊt

    Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or prolonged stress.

    Close up, a tall white pillar candle burnt down to a short stub in a pool of melted wax, its black wick sending up a thin thread of smoke, a closed laptop behind it at night
    Burnt down to nothing: burnout is exhaustion from too much stress for too long.

    Long hours can lead to burnout.

    She took time off to recover from burnout.

    Remember it

    Imagine a candle burning out after excessive use: burnout similarly follows prolonged stress or overwork.

    Watch out

    suffer from burn outsuffer from burnout

    The noun is written as one word.

    Goes with

    Words that go with burnout: suffer burnout; avoid burnout; risk of burnout; on the verge of burnout.

    Similar and opposite

    Similar
    exhaustionfatiguebreakdown
    Opposite
    freshnessvitality

    Word family

    The burnout family: burnout (noun), burn out (verb), burnt-out (adjective).

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