tune out

verb

tuned out; tuning out; tunes out

transitive verb

: to become unresponsive to : ignore

intransitive verb

: to dissociate oneself from what is happening or one's surroundings

Examples of tune out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In this excerpt from an interview with CBS News' Robert Costa, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin says, in the upcoming election, democracy is at stake, and that people should not tune out in the belief that their voice doesn't matter. David Morgan, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2024 And, per usual, Jim Cramer advised Club members to tune out the noise. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024 Simplify your financial life by tuning out this noise. Gregory Ostrowski, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 With my headset on, the distractions were instantly tuned out. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tune out 

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of tune out was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near tune out

Cite this Entry

“Tune out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tune%20out. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tune out

verb
: to stop paying attention to what is happening or to one's surroundings
thinking about the work and tuning everything else out

More from Merriam-Webster on tune out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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