IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
burnout
nounˈbɜːnaʊtBand 8
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
“burnout” is a Band 8 noun that means physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or prolonged stress. Below you'll find its pronunciation, natural example sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and the collocations that help you use it accurately in the IELTS Speaking test.
Meaning
Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or prolonged stress.
Example sentences
- “Long hours can lead to burnout.”
- “She took time off to recover from burnout.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
exhaustionfatiguebreakdown
Antonyms
freshnessvitality
Collocations & common phrases
Collocations
suffer burnoutavoid burnoutrisk of burnout
Common phrases
on the verge of burnout
Related words
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Frequently asked questions
What does “burnout” mean?
Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or prolonged stress.
How do you use “burnout” in a sentence?
For example: “Long hours can lead to burnout.”
What are some synonyms for “burnout”?
Synonyms include exhaustion, fatigue, breakdown.
Is “burnout” good vocabulary for IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is Band 8 vocabulary, and collocations such as suffer burnout, avoid burnout, risk of burnout help you use it naturally. Reaching for precise, less common words like this is exactly what lifts your Lexical Resource score.