# zoned

/ˈzoʊnd/ (US) · /zˈəʊnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/zoned
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. urban planning

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describes an area of land that is legally set aside for a specific purpose, like houses or factories.

For teachers: designated by local authorities for a specific type of land use, such as residential, commercial, or industrial.

- This part of the city is zoned for residential use only, so you cannot build a factory here.
- The developer faced significant legal hurdles because the plot was zoned exclusively for agricultural use rather than commercial development.

Usage: Usually placed after the verb 'to be' or before the noun it modifies.

### 2. distracted or high

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

feeling very tired, distracted, or under the influence of drugs so that you do not notice what is happening.

For teachers: experiencing a state of detachment, intense focus, or intoxication that results in a lack of awareness of one's surroundings.

- After working for twelve hours straight, I was completely zoned and couldn't even follow the conversation.
- He sat on the sofa looking completely zoned, barely reacting when his friends tried to get his attention.

Teaching tip: Often used as 'zoned out'; using 'zoned' alone in this sense is more common in casual American English slang.

## Examples

- I was so tired that I completely zoned out during the meeting.
- After staring at the computer screen for six hours, he felt completely zoned and couldn't focus on the conversation.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.