<?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>0001182870</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMMONS HARRIS H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </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>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>192929</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Simmons Family Foundation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares transferred from Roy W. &amp; Elizabeth E. Simmons Charitable Annuity Lead Trust #1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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 thes securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Simmons also holds 330,923 shares directly, and the following indirectly: 54,367.6792 by 401(k) Plan, 1,814,488 by Crestwood Communications, 38,069 by H&amp;A Simmons Foundation (2), 1,000 by Wife (2), 1,610 Custodian for Minor Children (2).</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
0001182870
SIMMONS HARRIS H
1
1
0
0
Chairman, President & CEO
Common Stock
2003-12-30
4
G
0
15942
D
192929
I
By Simmons Family Foundation
Shares transferred from Roy W. & Elizabeth E. Simmons Charitable Annuity Lead Trust #1.
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 thes securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
Mr. Simmons also holds 330,923 shares directly, and the following indirectly: 54,367.6792 by 401(k) Plan, 1,814,488 by Crestwood Communications, 38,069 by H&A Simmons Foundation (2), 1,000 by Wife (2), 1,610 Custodian for Minor Children (2).
/s/Clark B. Hinckley as Attorney In Fact
2004-01-02