Not paying attention can happen to the best of us, but it can be detrimental in certain situations. There are several synonyms for the phrase "not pay attention" that can help to paint a clearer picture of the different ways in which people may disengage from what is happening around them. Some of these synonyms include: ignore, neglect, disregard, overlook, tune out, daydream, space out, and be distracted. While these words may be similar in meaning, they each bring a slightly different connotation to the table. Learning to identify them can help individuals to better understand and communicate their own experiences with disengagement.