Word
ideation
US/ˌaɪdiˈeɪʃən/
UK/aɪdˈiəʃən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the process of thinking up new ideas, especially when you brainstorm with other people at work.
n. generation of new ideas, especially through structured brainstorming or creative problem-solving in business and design contexts.
Examples
“Our team uses ideation to find fresh ideas.”
“During the workshop, the marketing team focuses on ideation before choosing one campaign to develop.”
“Effective ideation balances wild creativity with practical limits, encouraging teams to generate many options before judging which ideas deserve further investment.”
Examples
simple
“Our team uses ideation to find fresh ideas.”
contextual
“During the workshop, the marketing team focuses on ideation before choosing one campaign to develop.”
complex
“Effective ideation balances wild creativity with practical limits, encouraging teams to generate many options before judging which ideas deserve further investment.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ideation” in context.
Verb
01. drive ideation
“Customer feedback continues to drive ideation for new features.”
verb + noun
02. engage in ideation
“Staff meet weekly to engage in ideation for client projects.”
verb + prep + noun
03. facilitate ideation
“The manager used visual prompts to facilitate ideation.”
verb + noun
04. focus on ideation
“This quarter we will focus on ideation rather than execution.”
verb + prep + noun
05. foster ideation
“Open office layouts are designed to foster ideation.”
verb + noun
06. ideation flourishes
“Ideation flourishes when teams feel safe to suggest wild ideas.”
noun + verb
07. ideation stalls
“Ideation stalls without clear goals and time limits.”
noun + verb
Adjective
08. collaborative ideation
“Collaborative ideation helped the team solve the packaging problem quickly.”
adj + noun
09. creative ideation
“The agency encourages creative ideation before any design work begins.”
adj + noun
Noun
10. burst of ideation
“A short burst of ideation opened the workshop effectively.”
noun + prep + noun
11. encourage open ideation
“The CEO encourages open ideation at monthly town halls.”
12. facilitate collaborative ideation
“Miro boards help us facilitate collaborative ideation across time zones.”
Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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