<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-17</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001037949</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>Q</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000944423</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANSCHUTZ PHILIP F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>555 17th Street</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>Suite 2400</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>Denver</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>80202</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001022325</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANSCHUTZ CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 17TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>19208000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.48</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>283208000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Anschutz Company</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17200000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Anschutz Family Investment Company LLC</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The shares of common stock that are the subject of this transaction (the &quot;TrENDS Shares&quot;) were held by the Qwest TrENDS Trust (the &quot;Trust&quot;) (over which Anschutz Company has no voting control) created in 1998 to hold the shares for holders of Trust Enhanced Distribution Securities (&quot;TrENDS&quot;). Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement governing the Trust, Anschutz Company was required to either cause the Trust to assign the TrENDS Shares to the TrENDS holders on November 17, 2003 (the &quot;Exchange Date&quot;), or provide cash to the Trust to settle such obligation, with the per share price to be determined by the average closing price per share of the common stock for the 20 trading dates immediately prior to the Exchange Date. On October 16, 2003, Anschutz Company gave notice of its intent to settle the TrENDS obligation for cash, and became the owner of the TrENDS Shares on the Exchange Date. A description of the TrENDS transaction is included in the Schedule 13D filed by Anschutz Company.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Philip F. Anschutz is the owner of 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Anschutz Company, which is the registered owner of the securities indicated.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Anschutz Company is the manager and one percent equity owner of Anschutz Family Investment Company LLC, which is the registered owner of the securities indicated.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas A. Richardson, Attorney-in-Fact; Power of Attorney has been previously filed</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

