Say it like this
- Let's brainstorm this for a few minutes
- We should brainstorm some solutions
- Brainstorm session with the engineering team
- Quick brainstorm before we start coding
Use it at work
Setting it up
- Let's do a quick brainstorm on how to cut onboarding time.
- I've booked 30 minutes to brainstorm names for the feature.
In the session
- No bad ideas yet. Let's get everything on the board.
- Let's brainstorm first and judge ideas later.
Afterward
- Here are the top ideas from the brainstorm.
- We brainstormed ten options and picked two to test.
Don't say this
Brainstorm requires a group; solo thinking is just thinking or problem-solving.
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your team needs to discuss new API design approaches. What would you say?
2. Tomorrow we will _______ potential solutions for the database scaling issue.
3. Which sentence uses brainstorm incorrectly?
4. Rewrite using brainstorm: We need to get the team together and think about new ways to improve the user interface.
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 4
"Let's brainstorm this for a few minutes"
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More about brainstorm
Real examples(4)
- in a standup
"We hit a performance bottleneck yesterday, so let's brainstorm some optimizations today."
- in a planning meeting
"Before we finalize the design, we should brainstorm alternative approaches with the backend team."
- in a Slack message
"Can everyone brainstorm ideas for the error messaging UI by Friday?"
- in a retrospective
"Let's brainstorm ways to reduce our deployment time next sprint."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not use brainstorm to mean individual thinking. It requires a group or team discussion. Also avoid using it as a noun when you mean the action (use the verb instead in action-oriented sentences).
- ✕We are brainstorming, so please evaluate all ideas now.✓We're brainstorming now, so let's hold off evaluation until later.
Brainstorming requires suspending judgment during the idea generation phase.
- ✕The brainstorm was very serious and formal.✓The brainstorm was very productive but remained open to all ideas.
Brainstorming is typically informal and creative; formality can stifle idea generation.
Other forms(4)
- brainstorm noun
"Our next brainstorm is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 AM."
- brainstorm verb (present)
"We brainstorm new features every two weeks."
- brainstormed verb (past)
"We brainstormed three potential architectures last week."
- brainstorming gerund
"Brainstorming helps teams generate creative solutions quickly."
Often used with(5)
- brainstorm session · A structured meeting focused on idea generation
- brainstorm ideas · Generate or discuss ideas together in a group
- quick brainstorm · A short, informal brainstorming activity
- brainstorm with the team · Conduct brainstorming as a collaborative activity
- brainstorm solutions · Generate possible answers to a problem collectively
Similar words(4)
- ideate · More formal; means to generate ideas, often in a structured way.
- workshop · A longer, more structured session; implies hands-on work beyond just idea generation.
- think tank discussion · More formal and serious; implies deeper analysis alongside idea generation.
- brainstorming session · Same meaning; just emphasizes it is a scheduled event.
Opposites(3)
- analyze
- evaluate
- criticize
Questions(5)
- What does brainstorm mean in software engineering?
- In software engineering, brainstorm is a collaborative meeting where engineers, designers, and product managers generate ideas to solve technical problems, design features, or improve systems. It emphasizes creative thinking without immediate criticism.
- How do you use brainstorm in a sentence at work?
- You can use it as a noun (We scheduled a brainstorm for tomorrow) or a verb (Let us brainstorm some approaches to this bottleneck). Both forms are common in tech workplaces.
- Is brainstorm formal or informal?
- Brainstorm is neutral to somewhat informal. While you can use it in professional settings and emails, it implies a relaxed, creative atmosphere rather than a rigid, formal process.
- Can one person brainstorm alone?
- No, brainstorm always involves a group. If you are thinking alone, say I thought about it, I problem-solved it, or I designed it. Brainstorming requires collaboration.
- What is the difference between brainstorm and a regular meeting?
- A brainstorm focuses on generating and collecting ideas without judgment; ideas are evaluated later. A regular meeting may involve decision-making, planning, or other purposes. Brainstorms are specifically creative-focused.
