brainstorm

[ breyn-stawrm ]

/ ˈbreɪnˌstɔrm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: brainstorm / brainstormed / brainstorming on Thesaurus.com

noun

a sudden impulse, idea, etc.: Her most recent brainstorm of teaching her dog to surf wasn’t met with much enthusiasm from the dog.
Chiefly British Informal. a fit of mental confusion or excitement.

a session of brainstorming.

adjective

of or relating to brainstorming.

verb (used without object)

to conduct or practice brainstorming, 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.

verb (used with object)

to generate (ideas, solutions, questions, etc.) through brainstorming.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of brainstorm

First recorded in 1890–95; brain + storm; originally a manifestation of a serious psychiatric disorder

OTHER WORDS FROM brainstorm

brain·storm·er, noun

Words nearby brainstorm

brainpower, brain scan, brainsick, brain someone, brainstem, brainstorm, brainstorming, Brains Trust, brainteaser, Braintree, brain trust

How to use brainstorm in a sentence

So, a smart way for brands to maximize their influence on TikTok is to understand the content popular within the platform and have their creative teams brainstorm content ideas.
What you must know about TikTok for business|Connie Benton|September 17, 2020|Search Engine Watch
We’ve gotten used to working from the kitchen table, and no one thinks it’s unusual to hold meetings on Zoom or to brainstorm using a Miro digital whiteboard.
Four tips on leading distributed (or semi-distributed) teams|Cal Henderson|July 30, 2020|Quartz
You’ll help us brainstorm topics, reach out to sources and make editorial choices about how to best frame and present the issues at hand.
We’re Looking For A Podcast Producer For PODCAST-19|Chadwick Matlin (chadwick.matlin@fivethirtyeight.com)|July 21, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Gather your team if you haven’t already, and brainstorm the opportunities for improvement that you can infer from the map.
Guide: How to effectively incorporate customer journey mapping into your marketing strategy|Connie Benton|July 14, 2020|Search Engine Watch

They brainstorm new ways to turn the numbers into useful information.
Why sports are becoming all about numbers — lots and lots of numbers|Silke Schmidt|May 21, 2020|Science News For Students
Bringing comedy to the forefront, Samsung employs Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd to sit in a brainstorm meeting.
The Best Celebrity Cameos in Super Bowl Ads|Marina Watts|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He used precious time when he could have been resting to brainstorm with Fasanella about ways to make future raids more effective.
Why Was My Son Killed in Fallujah—and His Murderer Set Free?|Michael Daly|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They didn't want to brainstorm solutions and they didn't want to bale water.
Who Wants To Be Prime Minister? Not Rami Hamdallah|Maysoon Zayid|June 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She was working on the MGM production Brainstorm with Walken when she drowned over Thanksgiving weekend.
Natalie Wood Findings: Was the Actress Bruised Before She Drowned?|Christine Pelisek|January 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Over the next three days we'll hear stories of bravery and brainstorm solutions for change.
And We're Off!|The Daily Beast|March 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I fired up my Xbox and opened a word-processor and started to brainstorm ideas for my papers.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
It had been a brainstorm selecting only girls—and pretty young things, at that—for the Interstellar Symphony.
World Beyond Pluto|C. H. Thames
It's a kind of rose-colored brainstorm, but it very seldom has complications.
At Good Old Siwash|George Fitch
"And then my erstwhile associate Jimenez had a brainstorm," said Terry ruefully.
Creatures of the Abyss|Murray Leinster
Dont worry, said Harvey, Flo probably had a brainstorm and called them already.
Beginners Luck|Emily Hahn

British Dictionary definitions for brainstorm

brainstorm

/ (ˈbreɪnˌstɔːm) /

noun

a severe outburst of excitement, often as the result of a transitory disturbance of cerebral activity

British informal a sudden mental aberration

informal another word for brainwave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

brainstorm

Origin of brainstorm

OTHER WORDS FROM brainstorm

Words nearby brainstorm

Words related to brainstorm

How to use brainstorm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for brainstorm