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😩 Extremely exhausted 🔥 Destroyed by fire 💡 Not working
burned-out

burned-out

62 4.4
Very tired after doing too much work for a long time
  • adjective
  • /ˈbɜrnɪd aʊt/
: agotado
  • Many employees report feeling burned-out due to long hours and high demands at their jobs.
  • get burned-out
  • become burned-out

And we'll get more burnt out as things go on.

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Examples

  • Staff who are burned out may miss more days from work and may be less productive.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Sometimes I worry that I'll get burned out and frustrated.

    Academic text (2011)

  • I was as burned out as anyone could ever be.

  • Well, many people are burned out without even knowing it, and that was me.

    Theo Von

  • Not to mention that the people around them are also getting really burned out by all of it.

    DoctorRamani

  • I was feeling very burnt out this past summer.

    Molly Burke

  • And how do I tell my boss I am burnt out at work?

  • We had not had time alone so far this year and were burned out and barely getting along.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I have mentioned that Frank is nearly burned out from the extreme stress of his work.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Many letters came from tired, or as they labeled themselves, "burned out" teachers.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

exhausted
vsburned-out
272 2.0

Very tired and completely used up for a person or thing after using all energy

is severe tiredness caused mainly by prolonged stress rather than one event
weary
vsburned-out
126 3.2

Feeling very tired after hard work or long effort

is tiredness from long lasting stress rather than a single sustained effort
worn
vsburned-out
43 2.8

Looking very tired because of too much work or worry

is the deep tiredness caused by prolonged stress rather than only outer appearance
overworked
vsburned-out
39 3.5

To work too much and feel very tired or stressed

is deep tiredness that comes from long term stress rather than short effort
fatigued
vsburned-out
23 4.1

Feeling very tired and having no energy

is severe tiredness that builds from long term pressure not just energy loss
drained
vsburned-out
22 3.4

Feeling very tired with no energy left

is tiredness from ongoing stress rather than simply temporary energy depletion
frazzled
vsburned-out
  • Informal
18 4.0

Very tired and stressed from too much work or worry

is severe tiredness due to prolonged pressure rather than immediate worry
played out
vsburned-out
  • Informal
10 6.7

Very tired or no longer interesting because people use it too much

is tiredness from long lasting stress rather than loss of appeal or usefulness
worn-out
vsburned-out
8 2.4

A person who is very tired and needs rest after hard work

is tiredness from prolonged pressure rather than objects losing function
washed-out
vsburned-out
  • Informal
5 5.1

Being very tired and without energy

is tiredness from chronic stress rather than a temporary pale or weak state
tuckered
vsburned-out
  • Informal
5 7.4

Very tired after a lot of activity or a long day

is tiredness that comes from prolonged stress rather than simple physical exertion
wearied
vsburned-out
2 3.4

Feeling very tired after hard physical or mental effort

is tiredness resulting from prolonged stress rather than from one activity
bone-deep tired
vsburned-out
1 8.2

Very tired all through your body so you can barely move

is tiredness mainly from long term stress rather than purely deep bodily tiredness
overworn
vsburned-out
6.1

Very tired because of too much work or travel

is severe tiredness caused by long term stress or excessive work

Antonyms

refreshed
23 1.5

Feeling rested and full of new energy after a break

How Exhausted

burned-out
62 4.4
exhausted
272 2.0
fatigued
23 4.1
weary
126 3.2
tired
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

burned-out positive
burnt-out positive

Morphology

burned-out = burn out (semi-transparent) = burn + out + ed

The adjective is the past-participle form of the phrasal verb 'burn out'; the metaphorical 'exhausted' sense is common but requires idiomatic knowledge beyond the literal components.

Etymology

Burned-out comes from the simple image of a fire that has used all its fuel: the burning stops and the fire is out. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a person whose energy is 'used up' after long stress, so they feel exhausted and cannot go on.