brainstorm ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

"brainstorm ideas" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to encourage someone to come up with solutions to a problem or to think of creative ideas. For example, "Let's brainstorm ideas for our project to come up with the best solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Brainstorm ideas in class.

The New York Times

As students brainstorm ideas, write them on the board.

The New York Times

Sometimes you can brainstorm ideas with him — you can even pitch B stories to him.

The New Yorker

He even has his own plexiglass board so that he can brainstorm ideas underwater.

The Guardian - Tech

She suggested they create an open group on Facebook to brainstorm ideas.

The New York Times - Magazine

In almost all workplaces, colleagues need to get together to brainstorm ideas, solve tough problems or build communal bonds.

The New York Times

Brainstorm ideas as a class, taking into account factors like rights and freedoms, politics, costs and more.

The New York Times

We like to brainstorm ideas for what we would like, and some ideas come from the author.

The New Yorker

As you distribute poster board, markers, scissors, and glue sticks to each group, have students brainstorm ideas for their ads.

The New York Times

The 30-year-old is a research manager at Nairobi's iHub, a tech innovation centre where Kenyans brainstorm ideas.

The Guardian

Gib Bulloch founded Accenture Development Partnerships, an initiative to brainstorm ideas for big companies doing business emerging markets.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When facilitating a brainstorming session, create a judgment-free environment to encourage all participants to share their ideas freely. This often leads to more creative and innovative outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "brainstorm ideas" when referring to individual ideation. Brainstorming inherently involves group participation. For solo idea generation, consider using phrases like "generate ideas" or "develop concepts."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brainstorm ideas" functions as a verb phrase, where "brainstorm" acts as a verb indicating the action of generating ideas collectively and "ideas" is the noun that represents the things generated. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's commonly used to stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

35%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "brainstorm ideas" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the process of generating multiple ideas within a group. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Wiki, and Science. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it is essential to remember that it inherently implies group participation and collaborative thinking. When referring to individual ideation is better to use phrases such as "generate ideas" or "develop concepts".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brainstorm thoughts

Replaces "ideas" with "thoughts", a subtle shift that highlights the mental process rather than the tangible results.

devise ideas

Highlights the planning and creation of ideas, similar to brainstorming but with a stronger emphasis on strategy.

launch ideas

Emphasizes the initiation or introduction of ideas, differing from the collaborative generation aspect of the original phrase.

think ideas

More generic, referring to the simple act of thinking of solutions, but lacks the collaborative aspect.

contemplate ideas

Suggests a more thoughtful and reflective consideration of ideas.

start ideas

Focuses on the beginning or initiation of new ideas.

seek ideas

Emphasizes the search for ideas, rather than the process of creating them collaboratively.

idea ideas

Less grammatically correct, it could be used colloquially to stress the importance of creating plans.

found ideas

Implies discovering or uncovering existing ideas, rather than creating new ones.

reconsider ideas

Focuses on re-evaluating existing ideas, not generating new ones.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "brainstorm ideas" in a sentence?

You can use "brainstorm ideas" to describe the process of generating a wide range of ideas within a group. For example, "Let's brainstorm ideas for our next marketing campaign" or "The team will brainstorm ideas to improve customer satisfaction".

What are some alternatives to "brainstorm ideas"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "generate ideas", "develop concepts", or "explore options" as alternatives to "brainstorm ideas".

Is it redundant to say "brainstorm ideas"?

While "brainstorm" inherently implies generating ideas, using "brainstorm ideas" can provide clarity, especially when addressing a broad audience. It reinforces the specific activity being undertaken. It is similar to other phrases like plan activities.

What's the difference between "brainstorm ideas" and "analyze ideas"?

"Brainstorm ideas" refers to the initial process of generating a wide array of concepts, while "analyze ideas" involves evaluating and assessing the viability and potential of those concepts. They represent distinct stages in the problem-solving process.