zoning out
/ˈzoʊnɪŋ aʊt/
NOUN
1. Losing attention or mental focus
The act of temporarily stopping paying attention to one's surroundings or an ongoing activity, often because of boredom, repetition, or mental distraction.
1.1. Mental distraction and inattention
A temporary state in which someone becomes mentally disengaged from a conversation, task, or situation and fails to follow what is happening.
Synonyms
- spacing out
- tuning out
- daydreaming
- mind-wandering
- drifting off
- losing focus
- becoming distracted
Antonyms
- concentration
- attentiveness
- alertness
- engagement
- focus
Examples
- During the meeting, Lisa found herself zoning out as the discussion became repetitive.
- I often catch myself zoning out when I'm doing a monotonous task for a long period.
- Jim realized he had been zoning out for the past few minutes and had missed important information.
- Despite his efforts to stay engaged, Tom couldn't help zoning out during the lengthy presentation.
Related Words
- inattention
- absent-mindedness
- distraction
- preoccupation
- mental wandering
- reverie
NOUN
2. Relaxation and mental disengagement
The act of mentally switching off from responsibilities or stressful thoughts and spending time in a relaxed, inactive, or carefree state.
2.1. Relaxing and unwinding
An informal state of taking a break from mental effort or daily pressures by relaxing, resting, or enjoying leisure activities.
Synonyms
- chilling out
- decompressing
- unwinding
- winding down
- kicking back
- vegging out
- lazing
- lounging
- loafing
- reposing
- resting
- relaxing
- loosening up
Antonyms
- working
- exertion
- strenuous activity
- mental engagement
Examples
- The soothing music helped Sarah relax and prevented her from zoning out during the meditation session.
- After a demanding week, he enjoyed zoning out on the couch and watching television.
- Spending the afternoon zoning out gave her a chance to unwind and forget about work.