brainstorming

American  

[brayn-stawr-ming] / ˈbreɪnˌstɔr mɪŋ /

noun

1. a technique for generating ideas and solving specific problems with uncensored and nonlinear thinking, usually performed through group participation in a spontaneous discussion where all ideas are noted without assigning them value, and no proposal is selected or discarded until after the conclusion of the creative exercise.

---

brainstorming British  

/ ˈbreɪnˌstɔːmɪŋ /

noun

1. intensive discussion to solve problems or generate ideas

---

Etymology

Origin of brainstorming

First recorded in 1955–60; brainstorm + -ing ¹

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

brainstorming

On that slow, gray afternoon, she was brainstorming for her long-anticipated comeback to the biweekly municipal gathering.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

After brainstorming suitable targets with Claude, the team settled on designing a synthetic protein that could serve as an antidote to scorpion venom.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

As we spend more of our working lives interacting with artificial intelligence, our chats are becoming part of our work product—a record of our research, brainstorming, problem-solving and decision-making.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

“The kids who belong to the temple, had a brainstorming session, and they put all their ideas on the table,” Yellin said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Our classroom is brainstorming ideas for a community service project.

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---