mind-wandering
nounUK /ˈmaɪnd ˌwɒn.dər.ɪŋ/
US /ˈmaɪnd ˌwɑːn.dɚ.ɪŋ/
When your thoughts drift away from what you are doing.
Mind-wandering during class made it hard for him to remember the homework.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A brief shift of attention away from a task toward unrelated thoughts.
Researchers measured mind-wandering by asking people what they were thinking about.
3. The habit of letting your imagination roam instead of paying attention.
Her mind-wandering turned a dull bus ride into a story about dragons.
4. A moment when you lose track of what is happening around you.
A sudden noise ended his mind-wandering and he looked up.