zoned out
Lost in thought
Zoned out describes a state of mental disconnection—not paying attention, lost in thought, or staring blankly.
Someone who zones out temporarily checks out of their surroundings: I zoned out during the meeting and missed the whole discussion.
The phrase suggests passive disengagement rather than active daydreaming.
Unable to concentrate
- absentmindedInattentive to immediate surroundings
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- obliviousLacking any awareness
- unawareLacking knowledge of something
preoccupied · scatterbrained · heedless · unmindful · unobservant · disengaged · detached · aloof
Abstracted, pleasant daydream
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
- lost in thoughtDeeply mentally preoccupied
- distantFar away or aloof
- farawayAt great distance
dreamy · glazed · abstracted · wool-gathering · miles away · in a daze · unfocused · blank stare
distracted
Unable to concentrate
- absentmindedInattentive to immediate surroundings
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- obliviousLacking any awareness
unaware · preoccupied · scatterbrained · heedless · unmindful · unobservant · disengaged · detached · aloof · not listening
reverie
Abstracted, pleasant daydream
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
- lost in thoughtDeeply mentally preoccupied
- distantFar away or aloof
faraway · dreamy · glazed · abstracted · wool-gathering · miles away · in a daze · unfocused · blank stare · autopilot
- daydreamingdaydreaming, daydreams, fantasies, deep in thought, musings
- dazed statesdazed, stunned, foggy, groggy, confused
- idlingidle, idled, loaf, loafed, laze
- inattentiondistracted, spacing, absent-minded, distraction, obliviousness
- expressions about forgetfulnessslipped my mind, drew a blank, absentminded, memory like a sieve, mind like a sieve
- sleepsleep, sleeping, nap, doze, slumber