brainstorm

[ breyn-stawrm ]

/ ˈbreɪnˌstɔrm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR brainstorm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a sudden impulse, idea, etc.
a fit of mental confusion or excitement.

brainstorming.

adjective

of or relating to brainstorming.

verb (used without object)

to conduct or practice brainstorming.

verb (used with object)

to subject (a problem) to brainstorming.

Nearby words

Origin of brainstorm

1890–95; brain + storm; originally a severe mental disturbance

Related formsbrain·storm·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for brainstorm

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
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

She was working on the MGM production, Brainstorm, with Walken when she drowned over Thanksgiving weekend.
L.A. Sheriff Reopens Natalie Wood Drowning Probe, Citing New Information|Christine Pelisek|November 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
I fired up my Xbox and opened a word-processor and started to brainstorm ideas for my papers.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
"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
It may seem rude to say so, but Orangeism consists mainly of a settled hallucination and an annual brainstorm.
The Open Secret of Ireland|T. M. Kettle
It had been a brainstorm selecting only girls—and pretty young things, at that—for the Interstellar Symphony.
World Beyond Pluto|C. H. Thames

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

Word Origin and History for brainstorm

brainstorm

"brilliant idea, mental excitement, fit of mental application," 1849, from brain (n.) + figurative use of storm (n.). As a verb, recorded from 1920s. Related: Brainstormed; brainstorming.