burn out — become exhausted
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To become extremely tired or lose motivation, usually because of working or studying too much for a long time.
Say it like a native
Textbook I became completely physically and mentally depleted from overwork.
Native I totally burned out from overwork.
'Burn out' is the everyday verb for exhaustion from overwork; the formal paraphrase is clinical.
Pattern: burn out (no object) / burn someone out (object)
In use
- After working twelve-hour days for months, she finally burned out and had to take a break.work
- I believe it's important to take regular holidays, otherwise people can burn out and become less productive at work.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I'm getting burn out at work.
✓ I'm getting burned out at work. / I'm burning out at work.
Use 'burned/burnt out' (participle) as an adjective, or 'burning out' — not 'burn out'.
Common collocations
burn out (from overwork)— completely, from stress, at work, risk
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'run out' (which means to have no more of something).
Related
- burn out (stop burning or working) — Another meaning of 'burn out' is 'stop burning or working'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.