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Glite Dictionary
to space out

to space out

4 7.7
To stop paying attention for a short time because your mind wanders
  • phrasal verb
  • /speɪs aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : desconectarse
  • They wouldn't respond at all, as if they were sort of spaced out thinking about something else, if you will.

Examples

  • It looked like you were spacing out.

    Tall Girl 2 (2022)

  • During the meeting, she started to space out and missed important information.

  • Sometimes I sort of space out.

    Remember Me (2010)

  • I just want to find my shoes and space out for a while.

    Blog text (33)

  • Then he would just space out, not talk to anyone, and watch freak films.

    Blog text (19)

  • I totally spaced out on that proposal.

    The Fifth Estate (2013)

  • You can't afford to space out.

    Academic text (2005)

  • And after that… I just sort of space out for about an hour.

    Office Space (1999)

  • Whoa, I just totally spaced out trying to contemplate that whole scene.

    Blog text (9)

  • Hey, stop spacing out.

    Iron Man 2 (2010)

Synonyms

to tune out
vsto space out
  • Informal
19 4.4

To stop listening or paying attention to what is happening

becomes distracted or lost in thought without intending to stop noticing

Antonyms

to pay attention
∞ 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

to stay on track
9 3.2

To focus on a goal without getting distracted

How Distracted

to blank out
  • Informal
1 6.3
to space out
  • Informal
4 7.7
to daydream
39 2.3

Surface Forms

space out infinitive
spaced out past
spaced out past participle
spacing out present participle
spaces out third person singular

Morphology

space + out

The sense 'to become distracted / lose focus' is not a straightforward composition of 'space' (to place apart) + 'out' (away), but it can be seen as a metaphorical extension (attention moving 'out' or creating mental 'space'). Because the connection relies on metaphorical mapping rather than literal composition, a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not reliably infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Space out is a phrase that creates the picture of your mind floating into empty space and moving out of the room. So when you 'become distracted' and stop paying attention, people say you space out.