comfort zone

noun

1
: the temperature range within which one is comfortable
2
: the level at which one functions with ease and familiarity

Example Sentences

He pushes the players to perform beyond their comfort zone. I need to expand my comfort zone and try new things.
Recent Examples on the Web After a week in which little seemed to go his way, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida got back into his comfort zone: talking up his lengthy list of policy achievements in front of a receptive conservative audience outside Washington. Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2023 Cohen says cooking classes can get you out of your comfort zone. Alyssa Girdwain, Women's Health, 17 Mar. 2023 Our last album, This Can’t Be Everything, was definitely outside of our comfort zone. Danny Klein, SPIN, 3 Mar. 2023 Despite stepping out of his comfort zone, Thompson said there is some familiarity with the situation. Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2023 El-Rashidi was far outside his comfort zone, and not just because this was the first real ice-climb for someone used to indoor climbing gyms or rocks out West. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2023 What about my comfort zone? Andrew Bahl, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2023 Being in a different country and getting myself out of my comfort zone really shifted my point-of-view of the world and of myself. Sara Merican, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023 Whereas plenty of stars opt for a specific aesthetic for their Oscars campaign, Yeoh isn't afraid to experiment and step outside of her comfort zone and reinvent her style every time. Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 12 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comfort zone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of comfort zone was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near comfort zone

Cite this Entry

“Comfort zone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comfort%20zone. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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