zone out
/zoʊn aʊt/
VERB
1. Stop paying attention
To stop concentrating on what is happening around you and allow your mind to drift elsewhere or become temporarily inactive.
1.1. Become distracted or mentally absent
To stop following a conversation, activity, or situation because attention has drifted away, often without consciously deciding to do so.
Synonyms
- space out
- daydream
- drift off
- lose focus
- become distracted
- switch off
- tune out
Antonyms
- pay attention
- concentrate
- focus
- stay alert
- remain attentive
Examples
- During the long and tedious meeting, it's easy to zone out and lose track of what's being discussed.
- In the middle of the lecture, I tend to zone out if the topic doesn't capture my interest.
- The monotonous hum of the engine made him zone out as he stared out the window during the road trip.
Related Words
- inattention
- distraction
- daydreaming
- absent-mindedness
- mind-wandering
- preoccupation
1.2. Relax and mentally switch off
To deliberately stop thinking about responsibilities or concerns and spend time in a relaxed state without focusing on anything in particular.
Synonyms
- chill out
- veg out
- unwind
- wind down
- relax
- kick back
- decompress
- rest
- laze
Antonyms
- get to work
- keep busy
- stay engaged
- remain focused
Examples
- After a hectic day at work, she likes to sit in her favorite chair and zone out to her favorite music.
- As the sun set over the peaceful beach, many people gathered to simply zone out and enjoy the tranquility.