debrief

/ˌdiˈbrif/
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A focused look back after an activity, used to gather facts, explain what happened, and learn from the experience.

Examples

  • The team did not debrief the control group until all responses were recorded.
  • How did you debrief people who left the experiment early?
  • Police will debrief the witnesses separately.
  • We did not have time to debrief before the next shift began.
  • The commander debriefed the crew after the mission.

Similar words

explain
review
interview
postmortem
discuss
evaluate
disclose
inform
wrap-up
question

Meanings

Review after an activity

verb
work
neutral
To question someone or discuss a completed activity in order to learn what happened, what worked, and what should change.

Examples

  • The commander debriefed the crew after the mission.
  • Let us debrief after the client call while the details are fresh.
  • Police will debrief the witnesses separately.
  • Did the coach debrief the team after the loss?
  • We did not have time to debrief before the next shift began.

Similar words

Explain a study afterward

verb
research
technical
To tell research participants the true purpose and methods of a study afterward, especially when some information was hidden from them.

Examples

  • The researchers debriefed every participant at the end of the study.
  • Participants must be debriefed when deception has been used.
  • The consent form explains when the team will debrief volunteers.
  • How did you debrief people who left the experiment early?
  • The team did not debrief the control group until all responses were recorded.

Similar words

Follow-up discussion

noun
work
informal
A meeting or conversation after an activity that reviews what happened and draws lessons from it.

Examples

  • We held a quick debrief after the presentation.
  • The morning debrief focused on the delays at the airport.
  • Can we move the debrief to Friday?
  • Her honest comments changed the tone of the whole debrief.
  • There was no formal debrief, so the same mistake happened again.

Similar words

Etymology

Formed from de- and the verb brief during the Second World War. It first described getting information from someone after a military mission.

FAQ

What does debrief mean?

To debrief is to discuss or question people after an activity so facts and lessons can be gathered.

Can debrief be a noun?

Yes. An informal debrief is a meeting or conversation that reviews an activity after it ends.

What is the difference between brief and debrief?

To brief someone is to give information before an activity. To debrief is to gather or discuss information afterward.

What does debrief mean in research?

Researchers debrief participants by explaining a study after it ends, including any purpose or method that had been hidden.

How do you pronounce debrief?

Debrief is pronounced /ˌdiˈbrif/ in General American English.

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