To zone out means to stop paying attention to what's happening around you, usually without meaning to. Your mind wanders away from whatever you're supposed to be focusing on, like when you're sitting in class but suddenly realize you've been thinking about your weekend plans for the past five minutes and have no idea what the teacher just said.

Everyone zones out sometimes. You might be reading a book and realize you've been staring at the same page while thinking about something completely different. Or you're eating dinner when your mom asks you a question, and you have to say “Sorry, what?” because you were totally zoned out.

Zoning out often happens when you're tired, bored, or your mind is full of other thoughts. It's different from deliberately ignoring someone: when you zone out, you're not choosing to stop paying attention. Your focus just drifts away on its own, like a balloon slipping from your hand.

People might say “Earth to Sam!” or wave a hand in front of your face when they notice you've zoned out. While everyone's mind wanders occasionally, if you find yourself zoning out constantly during important moments, it might mean you need more sleep, a break, or a more engaging way to approach what you're doing.