burn out
Britishverb
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to become or cause to become worn out or inoperative as a result of heat or friction
the clutch burnt out
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(intr) (of a rocket, jet engine, etc) to cease functioning as a result of exhaustion of the fuel supply
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(tr; usually passive) to destroy by fire
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to become or cause to become exhausted through overwork or dissipation
noun
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the failure of a mechanical device from excessive heating
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a total loss of energy and interest and an inability to function effectively, experienced as a result of excessive demands upon one's resources or chronic overwork
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Stop functioning because something, such as fuel, has been used up. For example, There's nothing wrong with the lamp; the light bulb just burned out . [Late 1300s]
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be burned out . Lose one's home, place of work, or school as the result of a fire. For example, Hundreds of tenants are burned out every year because of negligent landlords .
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Also, burn oneself out . Make or become exhausted or disaffected, especially with one's work or schooling. For example, Many young lawyers burn themselves out after a few years of 70-hour weeks . This metaphoric term alludes to a fire going out for lack of new fuel. Robert Southey used it in an 1816 essay: “The spirit of Jacobinism was burnt out in France.” [1970s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We have a number of families with significant needs who are under extreme pressure they're at burn out because of a lack of service and support," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Once fireworks burn out, they leave behind more than ash.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 4, 2026
"Many people hold onto the American dream, but given how tough things are getting, you can't be the salmon swimming against the current -- because you get tired, you burn out, it destroys you."
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
The alternative isn’t great, either: You stay in a miserable job and burn out before you’re 30.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
“What is it, exactly? Will it burn out our eyeballs or something?”
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
