<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001085551</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMMONS L E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>600 TRAVIS STE 6600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15942</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>192929</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Simmons Family Foundation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares transferred from Roy W. Simmons &amp; Elizabeth E. Simmons Charitable Annuity Lead Trust #1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Simmons also holds 89,314 shares directly, and the following indirectly: 1,814,488 By Crestwood Communications, 1,101.183 By Dividend Reinvestment Plan, 83,982 By Virginia &amp; L.E. Simmons Foundation (3) and 5,600 as Custodian for Minor Children (3).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Clark B. Hinckley as Attorney In Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-12-30
0
0000109380
ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
ZION
0001085551
SIMMONS L E
600 TRAVIS STE 6600
HOUSTON
TX
77002
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-12-30
4
G
0
15942
A
192929
I
By Simmons Family Foundation
Shares transferred from Roy W. Simmons & Elizabeth E. Simmons Charitable Annuity Lead Trust #1.
Mr. Simmons also holds 89,314 shares directly, and the following indirectly: 1,814,488 By Crestwood Communications, 1,101.183 By Dividend Reinvestment Plan, 83,982 By Virginia & L.E. Simmons Foundation (3) and 5,600 as Custodian for Minor Children (3).
The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
/s/Clark B. Hinckley as Attorney In Fact
2004-01-02