verb

debrief

dee-BREEF

Debrief (verb) means to question someone right after an event or mission to gather information about what happened. Example: “Agents were debriefed as soon as they landed.”

verb

To question someone right after an event or mission to gather information about what happened.

"Agents were debriefed as soon as they landed."

"The team debriefed after the project to work out what went wrong."

How to use debrief

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo get a full report from someone about something they just did or experienced.

Common pairings

debrief the team debrief after a mission

Word forms

debriefed past tense, debriefs plural, debriefs singular

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Fill the gap

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Agents were _____ as soon as they landed.

Etymology

From "de-" + "brief" — the reverse of briefing someone before a task.

Rhymes for debrief

fief brief thief chief grief belief relief mischief kerchief disbelief handkerchief

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Frequently asked questions

What does “debrief” mean?

The word “debrief” means to question someone right after an event or mission to gather information about what happened. In plain terms, to get a full report from someone about something they just did or experienced.

How do you pronounce “debrief”?

“Debrief” is pronounced dee-BREEF (/diˈbɹif/ in IPA).

How do you use “debrief” in a sentence?

Here is “debrief” used in a sentence: “Agents were debriefed as soon as they landed.”

What part of speech is “debrief”?

“Debrief” is a verb.

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