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.

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workload British  

/ ˈwɜːkˌləʊd /

noun

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

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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

This two-crew system allows the workload to be divided up, particularly in a congested air environment where the pilot is trying to evade threats.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 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 GAC had reached the conclusion that the intensified test schedule really was placing insupportable pressure on Los Alamos; sooner or later, Oppenheimer feared, the workload would erode the quality of the lab’s product.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik