burn out

British  

verb

1. to become or cause to become worn out or inoperative as a result of heat or friction

   the clutch burnt out

2. (intr) (of a rocket, jet engine, etc) to cease functioning as a result of exhaustion of the fuel supply

3. (tr; usually passive) to destroy by fire

4. to become or cause to become exhausted through overwork or dissipation

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noun

1. the failure of a mechanical device from excessive heating

2. 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

burn out Idioms  

1. 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]

2. 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 .

3. 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]

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Example Sentences

If you faced challenges in your business or burned out in your career, did you throw in the towel or step back and breathe, and ask what your body was telling you?

From MarketWatch

Other members of his sales team burned out on fruitless cold calls, but McDermott said he would skip leisurely, expensive lunches with co-workers to pack in more calls and sales meetings.

From MarketWatch

Instead, it was land where tanks had burned out and helicopters or drones had crashed that had the worst readings.

From BBC

I was burned out by the time I got to the last question, so much so I was thankful when the guy said, “I don’t really have a question, but more of a comment…”

From Salon

But images taken at Shahran on Sunday morning showed emergency workers inspecting burned out oil tankers, blackened buildings and blazing fires.

From BBC