verb
A2
Elementary
brainstorm
BRAYNS-tawm
Brainstorm (verb) means to generate ideas freely, often as a group, without immediately judging them. Example: “The team brainstormed names for the new product for an hour.”
verb
1
To generate ideas freely, often as a group, without immediately judging them.
"The team brainstormed names for the new product for an hour."
noun
1
A sudden good idea.
"She had a brainstorm in the shower and rushed to write it down."
How to use brainstorm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo freely generate ideas, usually in a group and without criticizing them right away.
Common pairings
brainstorm ideas
a brainstorming session
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- brainstorms
- Past tense
- brainstormed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team _____ names for the new product for an hour.
Etymology
Coined around 1945 by advertising executive Alex Osborn, describing a group "storming" a problem with ideas.
Class of 1945
brainstorm joined the language around 1945.
See the full Class of 1945 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for brainstorm
See all rhymes for brainstorm →Frequently asked questions
What does “brainstorm” mean?
The word “brainstorm” means to generate ideas freely, often as a group, without immediately judging them. In plain terms, to freely generate ideas, usually in a group and without criticizing them right away.
How do you pronounce “brainstorm”?
“Brainstorm” is pronounced BRAYNS-tawm (/ˈbɹeɪnstɔɹm/ in IPA).
How do you use “brainstorm” in a sentence?
Here is “brainstorm” used in a sentence: “The team brainstormed names for the new product for an hour.”
What part of speech is “brainstorm”?
Depending on how it is used, “brainstorm” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “brainstorm” come from?
The word “brainstorm” dates back to around 1945. Coined around 1945 by advertising executive Alex Osborn, describing a group "storming" a problem with ideas.
How many meanings does “brainstorm” have?
“Brainstorm” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to generate ideas freely, often as a group, without immediately judging them.
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