burn out
phrasal verb·4 senses·particle out
Meanings
Become exhausted from overwork
Why “out”? Going outward until nothing remains. Supply is gone.
“She burned out after three years.”
“The nurse burned out during the crisis.”
“She burned out after years of overtime.”
(of a fire) stop burning because there is no fuel left
“The fire burned out by midnight.”
“The candle burned out.”
(of an electrical device) stop working because of overheating
“The bulb has burned out.”
“The old motor burned out.”
Destroy a building or vehicle by fire
Why “out”? Pushing outward to eliminate. What is removed is sent away.
“Vandals burned out the car.”
“The fire burned out the shop.”
Don't confuse with
Burn out means become exhausted from overwork. Burn down means destroy a building completely by fire.
Test yourself
“She burned out after three years.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
burn down
A contrast learners often mix up
Destroy a building completely by fire
black out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Lose consciousness briefly
blank out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Suddenly fail to remember or think of something
blot out
Same out pattern: removal
Cover or hide something so it can no longer be seen
blow out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Extinguish a flame by blowing
cash out
Same out pattern: removal
Withdraw money from an account or investment
chill out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Relax and stop being anxious
chuck out
Same out pattern: removal
Throw something away
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