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

Murdoch did not cite the more recent example of late 2020, when the audience tuned out of Fox News while unhappy over the results of the 2020 election and the network’s coverage of them, including its call of Arizona for Joe Biden. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

In a sign of investors being able to tune out naysayers, Kalshi just completed a raise at a $40 billion valuation, having only crossed $1 billion in the summer of 2025. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Thank goodness, millions of neutral fans said when the Dodgers were eliminated – and then a lot of them tuned out. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

His anti-Trump commentary was already part of his public image, and a record share of the Super Bowl audience tuned out during his performance. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for tune out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

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