1 B1 idiomatic informal
To lose concentration or become mentally unfocused; to daydream or stare blankly.
"Sorry, I completely spaced out during the meeting — what was the last point?"
inseparable
space out
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To lose concentration and become mentally unfocused, or to arrange things with equal gaps between them.
In plain English
To stop paying attention and let your mind go blank, or to put things further apart from each other.
What does "space out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To arrange objects or events with even or deliberate gaps between them.
"Try to space the appointments out more so clients aren't waiting too long."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic slang
(Slang) To be confused, disorientated, or in an altered mental state, typically due to drug use.
"He was so spaced out that he couldn't follow the conversation."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move into space further apart — transparent for the arrangement sense; idiomatic for the mental state sense.
Actually means
To stop paying attention and let your mind go blank, or to put things further apart from each other.
Usage tip
The 'lose concentration' sense is very common in American English. The 'arrange at intervals' sense is more neutral. A third sense — being affected by drugs — is slang and less common. 'Spaced out' as an adjective is very widely used.
Words that pair with "space out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
meeting appointments payments days completely totally
How to conjugate "space out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
space out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
spaces out
he/she/it
Past simple
spaced out
yesterday
Past participle
spaced out
have + pp
-ing form
spacing out
continuous
Hear "space out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "space out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "space out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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