workload

American  

[wurk-lohd] / ˈwɜrkˌloʊd /

Or work load

noun

1. the amount of work that a machine, employee, or group of employees can be or is expected to perform.

---

workload British  

/ ˈwɜːkˌləʊd /

noun

1. the amount of work to be done, esp in a specified period by a person, machine, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of workload

First recorded in 1940–45; work + load

Example Sentences

While A.I.’s selling point is its ability to quickly take care of otherwise-time-consuming tasks, the Harvard Business Review recently found that this feature only ends up intensifying employee workload, not reducing it.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

“This demand strength comes from a combination of persistent workload shift to the cloud and the growing consumer and enterprise adoption of AI,” analyst Erik W. Woodring wrote.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Instead, Lee says that students are more interested in addressing course engagement and rigor—particularly in courses called “gems,” which is Harvard slang for classes that offer a light workload and lenient grading.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

"The most important thing is it can manage the workload of players better," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

“We’ll see if I can get through my workload of broken clocks in the shop and at the museum, Hugo,” said his father.

From "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick