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Glite Dictionary
to burn out

to burn out

24 4.7
Stop working, especially things like lights or fuses, because they get too hot from too much use
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɜrn aʊt/
translation icon : fundirse
  • If you leave the light on too long, the bulb will burn out and stop working.

Examples

  • The fuse will burn out in 95 seconds.

    All Superheroes Must Die (2011)

  • Uneven wear on hammers throws the rotor out of balance and can burn out the bearings.

    Academic text (2000)

  • People who come in and seem too excited for the morning, they burn out so fast.

  • We'll have to let this thing burn out before we even think about moving back in.

    Project X (2012)

  • I want to run longer, but I always burn out in a little over a minute.

    Blog text (27)

  • Nurse Johnson cares too much about her job and is going to burn out.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Well, maybe one of the light bulbs burned out.

    Fetching Cody (2005)

  • They blaze brightly, then quickly burn out.

    Judas (2004)

  • The fuse in the old electrical system will burn out if it overheats.

  • Make sure to turn off the heater; otherwise, it will eventually burn out from continuous use.

Synonyms

to blow
vsto burn out
∞ 3.5

To break suddenly because of pressure or too much electricity

tends to be slower, caused by heat or long excessive use
to overheat
vsto burn out
50 3.7

Make something too hot so it can be damaged

describes the result of heat that makes devices stop working entirely
to cut out
vsto burn out
45 4.1

To stop working suddenly

usually involves damage from heat or heavy long term use
to burn up
vsto burn out
27 3.7

To be completely destroyed by fire

involves stopping from overheating or heavy use, not destruction by open fire
to blow out
vsto burn out
  • Specialized
26 4.1

Stop working because of too much electricity or heat

is broader, covering devices failing from heat or long excessive use
to wear out
vsto burn out
19 2.7

To make a person very tired or a thing stop working by using it too much

is more about sudden failure from heat or heavy strain rather than slow wearing
to melt down
vsto burn out
12 6.9

Lose control emotionally or fail completely because it gets too hot

is less extreme, meaning stop working by heat or prolonged use
to flame out
vsto burn out
  • Informal
6 7.5

To fail suddenly after a good start

is specific to devices failing from heat or prolonged excessive operation

Antonyms

to function
441 2.6

To work in a particular role or job

to revive
71 4.1

To make a person conscious again after fainting

How Damaged

to destroy
∞ 1.0
to burn out
24 4.7
to break down
194 3.2

Surface Forms

burn out infinitive
burned out past
burned out past participle
burning out present participle
burns out third person singular

Morphology

burn + out

The sense 'to stop working because of damage/overheating' can be partially inferred from 'burn' (to be damaged by heat) combined with 'out' (no longer functioning), so there is a visible compositional link. However, the specific technical extension to electrical/mechanical failure is somewhat conventionalized and not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

The verb burn out comes from the image of the thin wire inside a light bulb: the wire burns and the light goes out. When that part is 'burned out', it can no longer work, so burn out means 'to stop working' because of heat or too much use.