brainstorm

brainstorm — verb

IPA/ˈbreɪnstɔːm/
KK[brˈenstˌɔrm]IPA/ˈbreɪnstɔːrm/
  • brainstormpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • brainstormshe / she / it
  • brainstormedpast simple
  • brainstorming-ing form

1. to share many possible ideas together in a short talk before choosing the best o

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to share many possible ideas together in a short talk before choosing the best one.

Example

After class, Aiko and Ben brainstormed ways to raise money for the trip.

brainstorm ways to + verb

At noon, the design team brainstormed beside the whiteboard in Room 4.

often used with a group subject

Common collocations
  • brainstorm ideas
  • brainstorm together
  • brainstorm ways to solve
  • brainstorm names for something
Synonyms
  • discuss

    broader and can include slow evaluation, not just free idea generation

  • plan

    focuses more on deciding steps than on producing many early ideas

  • toss around ideas

    informal and close in meaning, often used in conversation

  • problem-solve

    focuses on reaching an answer rather than freely suggesting options

Antonyms
  • decide

    comes after the stage of producing options

Grammar Patterns

brainstorm ideas

brainstorm ways to + verb

brainstorm how / whether + clause

Usage Note

Usually describes people producing many ideas together before choosing one. It is often followed by 'ideas', 'ways', or a wh-clause such as 'how to solve it'.

Common Mistakes

I brainstormed the answer alone for ten minutes.
I thought about the answer alone for ten minutes.' / 'Our group brainstormed answers for ten minutes.
brainstorm usually suggests shared idea-making, not one person thinking silently.

brainstorm — noun

IPA/ˈbreɪn.stɔːm/
KK[brˈenstˌɔrm]IPA/ˈbreɪn.stɔːrm/

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Brainstorm focuses on producing many possible ideas before anyone decides which one is best. Discuss is much broader: people can discuss a problem, a news story, or a budget, and they may carefully judge each point as they go. Plan comes later and suggests choosing steps or arranging details. Toss around ideas is an informal expression close to brainstorm, but it sounds more conversational and less like a structured meeting activity. Problem-solve focuses on getting to an answer, even if the process is not open or creative. A class can brainstorm names for a play, a manager can discuss costs, and a team can plan the event after the ideas are chosen.

brainstorm ↗discuss ↗plan ↗toss around ideasproblem-solve

Common collocations

Phrases

  • have a brainstorm

Etymology

English

Brainstorm was formed in English from brain and storm. It was first used for a sudden disturbance of the mind, and later developed the more positive meanings of a sudden idea and of a session where people throw out ideas freely.