debrief
verb
de·brief
(ˌ)dē-ˈbrēf 
debriefed; debriefing; debriefs
1
: to interrogate (someone, such as a pilot) usually upon return (as from a mission) in order to obtain useful information
The hostages were later debriefed by police.
2
: to carefully review upon completion
debrief the flight
: to be interrogated for useful information following a mission, experience, etc. : to be debriefed
After each mission, … the pilots land, disarm and roll into the fuel pit. They spend another hour debriefing with Intelligence …—
Maria Wilhelm
Maria WilhelmExamples of debrief in a Sentence
Police debriefed the hostages upon their return.
The pilot was debriefed after his flight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Al-Halabi would have to spend the next several months being debriefed, but the newlyweds were still thrilled to be in each other’s company.
—Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
To ensure our testing scenarios remained current, every case officer who returned from a Moscow assignment debriefed us on current techniques being deployed by the KGB.
—Dawn Klavon, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
In a new episode of their podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, presented by Wave Sports & Entertainment, the brothers reviewed the Kansas City Chiefs' win over the Buffalo Bills, and also debriefed Jason's multiple viral moments from the evening.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2024
While debriefing the participants, whose ages ranged from 20s to 60s, Moss began to observe the four distinct characteristics of high-performing teams and recognized the business application.
—Sheila Callaham, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Times film critic Justin Chang and entertainment columnist Glenn Whipp, who also voted in the awards, sat down after the meeting to debrief the group’s choices.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2023
Afterward, the reader debriefed management and HR on what worked — and notes that HR is pushing to provide more breaks for all staff at next year’s conference.
—Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023
Adults who are able will be debriefed Hostages who are well enough will be allowed to leave the medical facilities.
—Shoshanna Solomon, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
Those under 12 will be met at the border by their families, the official said, while older ones will meet their families at hospitals, where they will be debriefed by security services.
—Hiba Yazbek, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023
Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
To ensure our testing scenarios remained current, every case officer who returned from a Moscow assignment debriefed us on current techniques being deployed by the KGB.
—Dawn Klavon, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
In a new episode of their podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, presented by Wave Sports & Entertainment, the brothers reviewed the Kansas City Chiefs' win over the Buffalo Bills, and also debriefed Jason's multiple viral moments from the evening.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2024
While debriefing the participants, whose ages ranged from 20s to 60s, Moss began to observe the four distinct characteristics of high-performing teams and recognized the business application.
—Sheila Callaham, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Times film critic Justin Chang and entertainment columnist Glenn Whipp, who also voted in the awards, sat down after the meeting to debrief the group’s choices.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2023
Afterward, the reader debriefed management and HR on what worked — and notes that HR is pushing to provide more breaks for all staff at next year’s conference.
—Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023
Adults who are able will be debriefed Hostages who are well enough will be allowed to leave the medical facilities.
—Shoshanna Solomon, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
Those under 12 will be met at the border by their families, the official said, while older ones will meet their families at hospitals, where they will be debriefed by security services.
—Hiba Yazbek, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debrief.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to debrief
Dictionary Entries Near debrief
Cite this Entry
“Debrief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debrief. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
debrief
verb
de·brief
di-ˈbrēf
ˈdē-
: to question (as an astronaut) on return from a mission or assignment in order to obtain useful information
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share