# brainstorm

/ˈbɹeɪnˌstɔɹm/ (US) · /bɹˈeɪnstɔːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brainstorm
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to generate ideas

verb · CEFR B2

to work with other people to quickly think of many new ideas or solutions to a problem.

For teachers: to participate in a creative process, typically in a group, to generate a large volume of ideas or solutions rapidly.

- The team met for an hour to brainstorm new names for the product.
- The marketing department spent the afternoon brainstorming potential slogans, encouraging even the most unconventional suggestions to foster creative breakthroughs.

Usage: Often used as an intransitive verb or with a direct object representing the topic.

### 2. a group session

noun · CEFR B2

a meeting where a group of people try to find new ideas by talking freely.

For teachers: a collaborative session designed to produce ideas or solve problems through spontaneous group discussion.

- We had a quick brainstorm this morning to solve the scheduling conflict.
- The initial brainstorm yielded several viable strategies, though the most promising required further technical validation before implementation.

### 3. a sudden idea

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Informal

a sudden, clever idea that solves a problem.

For teachers: a sudden, inspired insight or a moment of creative problem-solving.

- I had a sudden brainstorm in the shower and figured out how to fix the code.
- Just as the project seemed destined for failure, the lead engineer had a brainstorm that simplified the entire mechanical assembly.

### 4. a mental error

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

a sudden, temporary moment of confusion or a silly mistake.

For teachers: a temporary lapse in concentration or a sudden, inexplicable mental error.

- I had a complete brainstorm and forgot my own phone number.
- The goalkeeper suffered a momentary brainstorm, allowing the ball to roll past him into the net during the final minutes of the match.

Teaching tip: In British English, this sense is common but can be confusing to learners who only know the creative 'idea generation' meaning.

## Examples

- We had a brainstorm to find a new name for the project.
- The marketing team held a brainstorm to develop a fresh strategy for the upcoming product launch.
- After weeks of stagnant progress, the executive team organized a brainstorm to reignite creativity and explore alternative paths toward the company's long-term goals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.