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Glite Dictionary
spaced-out

spaced-out

1 8.7
Not fully paying attention and feeling confused or dreamy
  • adjective
  • /speɪst aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : despistado
  • After studying all night, I felt completely spaced out during the exam.

We were just sitting at the cocina and she was just spaced out looking at the wall.

Examples

  • Yeah, but then some of the lads were, I could see it was spaced out and just not with it.

  • Definitely more spaced out than I expected.

  • Yeah, but then some of the lads were, I could see it was spaced out and just not with it.

  • We were just sitting at the cocina and she was just spaced out looking at the wall.

    Alannized

  • I am used to having AF points more spaced out, usually because I tend to use the Rule of Thirds quite a bit in my compositions.

    Blog text (19)

  • She stared blankly at her computer screen, looking rather spaced out.

  • You seem a bit spaced out today; did you get enough sleep last night?

Synonyms

out of it
vsspaced-out
  • Informal
42 8.2

Not aware and slow to react because of tiredness or medicine

is a less deep state focused on confusion or inattention
dazed
vsspaced-out
40 4.8

Not able to think and act clearly after a shock or when very tired

is more general, including drifting attention not only shock effects
woozy
vsspaced-out
29 5.7

Feeling dizzy and unsteady, as if you might faint

is more about mental confusion than physical dizziness or weakness
groggy
vsspaced-out
21 5.6

Feeling weak, unsteady, and confused after being very tired, ill, or hit on the head

is less physical, more about mental inattentiveness or drug fog
absent
vsspaced-out
19 4.0

Not paying attention because your mind is somewhere else

is more passive daydreaming rather than an externally caused daze
foggy
vsspaced-out
18 3.4

Unable to think clearly or react quickly

is more dazed or druglike rather than only unclear thinking
dopey
vsspaced-out
  • Informal
3 4.0

Feeling sleepy, slow, and not very alert

is broader and often implies a mental blank rather than sleepiness
discombobulated
vsspaced-out
  • Informal
2 9.9

Confused and unable to think clearly after something unexpected

is less formal and more about simple daze than disrupted order
absentminded
vsspaced-out
2 5.9

A person who often does not pay attention and forgets small things like keys

is more about routine forgetfulness than heavy tired or drugged confusion
spacey
vsspaced-out
  • Informal
1 7.9

Appearing confused and not paying attention, as if daydreaming

is a broader daze that includes tiredness or drug effects
zonked
vsspaced-out
  • Informal
1 9.1

Very tired, asleep, or feeling the effect of alcohol

is milder, often meaning inattentive rather than totally exhausted
spacy
vsspaced-out
  • Informal
8.9

To feel dazed and not able to pay attention

is similar but also covers simple inattentiveness from tiredness
puddled
vsspaced-out
  • Informal
8.7

Confused and unable to think clearly because of tiredness or stress

is broader, including druglike daze beyond just tired confusion

Antonyms

alert
137 3.5

A state of being ready and watchful for possible danger

focused
3.0

Giving full attention to one thing

How Distracted

out of it
  • Informal
16 7.5
spaced-out
  • Informal
1 8.7
absentminded
2 5.9

Surface Forms

spaced-out positive

Morphology

spaced-out = space out (transparent) = space + out + ed

Formed from the phrasal verb 'space out' plus the participial '-ed' to make an adjective meaning 'in the state of having spaced out', so the meaning follows directly from the base.

Etymology

The word spaced-out comes from joining space and out, creating the image of your mind being 'out in space' and far away. So, spaced-out means 'not fully paying attention', confused, or dazed.