brainstorm
brainstorm — verb
1. to share many possible ideas together in a short talk before choosing the best o
to share many possible ideas together in a short talk before choosing the best one.
After class, Aiko and Ben brainstormed ways to raise money for the trip.
brainstorm ways to + verb
At noon, the design team brainstormed beside the whiteboard in Room 4.
often used with a group subject
Before the festival, our neighbors brainstormed ideas for the school booth.
In the meeting, three nurses brainstormed how to shorten the waiting line.
By sunset, the club had brainstormed ten names for the new podcast.
- discuss
broader and can include slow evaluation, not just free idea generation
- plan
focuses more on deciding steps than on producing many early ideas
- toss around ideas
informal and close in meaning, often used in conversation
- problem-solve
focuses on reaching an answer rather than freely suggesting options
- decide
comes after the stage of producing options
文法句型
brainstorm ideas
brainstorm ways to + verb
brainstorm how / whether + clause
用法筆記
Usually describes people producing many ideas together before choosing one. It is often followed by 'ideas', 'ways', or a wh-clause such as 'how to solve it'.
常見錯誤
brainstorm — noun
1. a useful idea that appears in your mind all at once.
a useful idea that appears in your mind all at once.
While washing dishes, Noa had a brainstorm about the broken drawer.
have a brainstorm about + problem
One late-night brainstorm gave the app its final name.
a brainstorm gives an answer
During the bus ride, Greta wrote her brainstorm on a ticket stub.
The answer came from Bao's brainstorm in the library stairwell.
At lunch, the coach had a brainstorm about moving practice to the gym.
- idea
the broad everyday word, without the sense of sudden arrival
- insight
often deeper and more analytical than a quick practical idea
- inspiration
can sound more creative or artistic
文法句型
have a brainstorm
a brainstorm about + problem
用法筆記
Distinguish this from noun/2: this sense is a good idea, not a confused mental state. It refers to one idea, not to the whole group activity in verb/1.
常見錯誤
2. a brief period when your mind stops working properly and you feel confused.
a brief period when your mind stops working properly and you feel confused.
On stage, Tariq had a brainstorm and forgot the first line.
have a brainstorm and forget something
For a moment, the driver went into a brainstorm after the loud crash.
go into a brainstorm
At the checkout, my aunt had a brainstorm and left her card behind.
The sudden question threw Wen into a brainstorm during the interview.
During the quiz, Omar had a brainstorm and wrote his phone number.
- confusion
broader and more neutral
- mental block
often stresses being unable to remember or continue
- blank spell
emphasizes a short loss of memory or thought
- clarity
the state of thinking clearly
文法句型
have a brainstorm
go into a brainstorm
throw someone into a brainstorm
用法筆記
Older and much less common than noun/1. Distinguish from noun/1, where a brainstorm is a good idea; here it means a short spell of confusion.