<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000109380</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZION</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179477</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CASH R D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-07-02</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>123.5078</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>50.33</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>123.5078</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>27072.4279</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each phantom stock unit represents one shares of the company's Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom stock units are paid out as cash upon the earlier of resignation, retirement or death.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Cash also holds 26,689 shares under the title &quot;Stock Option (right to buy)&quot;</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Clark B. Hinckley as Attorney In Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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4
2003-07-01
0
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001179477
CASH R D
1
0
0
0
Phantom Stock
0
2003-07-01
2003-07-02
4
A
0
123.5078
50.33
A
1988-08-08
1988-08-08
Common Stock
123.5078
27072.4279
D
Each phantom stock unit represents one shares of the company's Common Stock.
Phantom stock units are paid out as cash upon the earlier of resignation, retirement or death.
Mr. Cash also holds 26,689 shares under the title "Stock Option (right to buy)"
/s/Clark B. Hinckley as Attorney In Fact
2003-07-07