brain wave
noun
plural brain waves
1
a
: rhythmic fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain resulting in the flow of an electric current
b
: a current produced by brain waves
2
: a flash of inspiration : brainstorm sense 1a
We invited the Hill Holliday ad agency in Boston to collaborate on our cover shoot, and its creative director, Lance Jensen, had a brain wave: wouldn't it be eye-catching for our pages to reflect not just the editorial look of the '60s but also the advertising idiom of the time?—
Tina Brown
Tina BrownExamples of brain wave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Share [Findings] EEG experts disagreed on whether, in the future, brain waves could be used to read dreams and long-term memories.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
The company’s first product, which began preorders this year, tracks brain waves with electrocephalography (EEG) sensors, then tweaks them with sound waves delivered via bone conduction.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Dec. 2024
Scientists found that during an Access Bars session, the brain waves reach a state of 1-hertz delta, which normally can only be reached during a deep sleep phase.
—David Kubes, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Calcium regulates brain waves during the restful sleep phase (non-rapid eye movement sleep).3
Dairy products, fatty fish with bones, and certain vegetables like kale and bok choy naturally contain calcium.
—Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brain wave 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
The company’s first product, which began preorders this year, tracks brain waves with electrocephalography (EEG) sensors, then tweaks them with sound waves delivered via bone conduction.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Dec. 2024
Scientists found that during an Access Bars session, the brain waves reach a state of 1-hertz delta, which normally can only be reached during a deep sleep phase.
—David Kubes, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Calcium regulates brain waves during the restful sleep phase (non-rapid eye movement sleep).3
Dairy products, fatty fish with bones, and certain vegetables like kale and bok choy naturally contain calcium.
—Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brain wave
Dictionary Entries Near brain wave
Cite this Entry
“Brain wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20wave. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share