brainstorm

1 of 2

verb

brain·​storm ˈbrān-ˌstȯrm 

brainstormed; brainstorming; brainstorms

transitive + intransitive

: to try to solve a problem or come up with new ideas by having a discussion that includes all members of a group : to discuss a problem or issue and suggest solutions and ideas

Students from Paris, Milan, Tokyo, and New York were invited to the Cambridge campus to brainstorm with MIT students on the marriage of couture and computer.

—Elizabeth Thrasher

Engineers are only beginning to brainstorm possible reasons that Polar Lander might have kept silent.

—Sharon Begley

see also brainstorming

brainstormer noun

plural brainstormers

In fact, the speakers joined the attendees as collaborative brainstormers in an exercise to find solutions to some truly global problems …

—Amy Schrier

brainstorm

2 of 2

noun

plural brainstorms

1

a

: a sudden bright idea

Another French immigrant to the Quaker City, Eugene Roussel, had a brainstorm that raised the curtain on a new era in the history of carbonated beverages.

—David M. Schwartz

b

: the act of brainstorming : a group discussion for the purpose of solving a problem or coming up with new ideas

Once the brainstorms are done, however, everyone needs to get their individual pieces of the creative puzzle done as effectively and efficiently as possible.

—Denise Blasevick

c

: a harebrained idea

The layout looks as though it is the brainstorm of the art director of a struggling new advertising agency after a three-martini lunch.

—Sloan Wilson

2

British, informal : a temporary state of confusion : a period of unclear thinking

… Smith's rise was interrupted by a brainstorm, a failure of logic, a loss of bearings that will now stay with him for the rest of his life.

—Paul Hayward

3

dated : a violent transient fit of insanity

Synonyms

Verb

• communicate
• intercommunicate

Examples of brainstorm in a Sentence

Verb

they brainstormed about ways to raise money for their organization

Her latest brainstorm is to convert the garage into an apartment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But late at night, Krenn had begun working on a different approach to brainstorming. —Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025

The project prompts questions about what went wrong in brainstorming sessions rather than scoring points for finding new ways into a familiar story. —Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 18 Apr. 2025

So Min and Lee brainstorm an unusual proposal: a partner swap that will solve one set of problems while creating a pile-up of others. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025

At a recent event in Texas aimed at brainstorming ways to boost birth rates, organizer Kevin Dolan pointed to the shifting political winds. —Rachel Wilson, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1945, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1861, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for brainstorm

• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform
• planform
• platform
• preform
• rainstorm

Kids Definition

brainstorm

noun

brain·​storm ˈbrān-ˌstȯ(ə)rm 

: a sudden inspiration or idea