burnout
Americannoun
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a fire that is totally destructive of something.
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Also burn-out fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity.
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Rocketry.
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the termination of effective combustion in a rocket engine, due to exhaustion of propellant.
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the end of the powered portion of a rocket's flight.
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Electricity. the breakdown of a lamp, motor, or other electrical device due to the heat created by the current flowing through it.
Etymology
Origin of burnout
First recorded in 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase burn out
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.
The answer is more sinister and complex than simple laziness or burnout.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Villarreal: Seeing what Robby is facing, how do you establish boundaries for yourself in terms of taking it in — dealing with the burnout, and overwhelming emotion of it?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
To do that, you first need to address what sounds to me like a fair amount of burnout and explore which professional paths you believe would genuinely improve your day-to-day life.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Existing officials, already stretched thin, are being asked to take even more assignments, which leads to burnout and even higher turnover.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Soon there will be signs of emotional instability and forgetfulness, the first symptoms of the burnout.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
