<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184845</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WAGNER I J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former Director</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>49.24</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>3127.3006</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>49.24</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-01</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2003-05-01</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3127.3006</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each phantom stock unit represents one share of the Company's Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom stock units are paid out as cash upon the earlier or resignation, retirement or death.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Wagner retired from the Board on April 25, 2003 and his phantom stock units were paid out in cash as per the Company's deferred compensation plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Clark B. Hinckley as attorney in fact for Irving J. Wagner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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4
2003-05-01
1
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001184845
WAGNER I J
0
0
0
1
Former Director
Phantom Stock
49.24
2003-05-01
4
A
0
3127.3006
49.24
D
2003-05-01
2003-05-01
Common Stock
3127.3006
0
D
Each phantom stock unit represents one share of the Company's Common Stock.
Phantom stock units are paid out as cash upon the earlier or resignation, retirement or death.
Mr. Wagner retired from the Board on April 25, 2003 and his phantom stock units were paid out in cash as per the Company's deferred compensation plan.
/s/Clark B. Hinckley as attorney in fact for Irving J. Wagner
2003-05-05