burn out

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to exhaust oneself completely through sustained overwork, stress, or excessive demand to the point of losing the capacity for further productive effort, experiencing a collapse of motivation, emotional responsiveness, and cognitive function; the combustion metaphor captures the image of a fuel source that has been consumed entirely, leaving nothing but ash and no capacity for further energy production; burnout is recognised as a significant occupational health condition associated with demanding professions including healthcare, teaching, social work, and technology, and is characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced sense of personal accomplishment; it is distinct from ordinary tiredness in involving a fundamental depletion of the resources needed for recovery