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Reference : Phrasal Verbs : Z : zone out

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zone out American English Informal

Meaning: If someone zones out, they look blankly ahead without paying attention, maybe because they're tired or bored or affected by drugs.

Synonym: space out (American, informal)

For example:

  • zone out Peter sometimes gets bored in class and zones out. He looks like he's a million miles away.

  • be zoned out I was talking to Debbie, but she was so zoned out that she didn't even hear me.

Variety: This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz:

I knew Jamie was zoning out because he was
  1. staring at nothing
  2. getting angry
  3. laughing a lot

Grammar explanation: separable and non-separable phrasal verbs

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