ENGLISH
REFERENCE

zoned

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈzoʊnd// UK //zˈəʊnd// zoned Slang

adj. feeling very tired or not paying attention to what is happening around you. You often feel this way after a long day or when you are bored.

adj. characterised by a state of dissociation, intense focus on a single task, or mental exhaustion. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'look'; frequently followed by the particle 'out'.


SIMPLE

I was so tired that I completely zoned out during the meeting.

CONTEXTUAL

After staring at the computer screen for six hours, he felt completely zoned and couldn't focus on the conversation.

COMPLEX

The athlete appeared entirely zoned before the race, staring blankly at the track as if the cheering crowd and flashing cameras had ceased to exist in his mental landscape.

Synonyms
Usage

Often functions as a participial adjective; frequently pairs with 'out' to form the phrasal verb 'zone out'.

Pitfall

He was zone during the classHe was zoned during the classWhen describing a person's state or feeling, the past participle form 'zoned' must be used rather than the base form.

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