brain dump
noun
: the act or an instance of comprehensively and uncritically expressing and recording one's thoughts and ideas (as on a particular topic)
Instead, Shafer recommends doing a brain dump—getting workflow, ideas, commitments, and to-do lists out of your head and onto a physical list and calendar.—
Stephanie Vozza
Stephanie VozzaFirst, you do a giant brain dump to force yourself to clear out the mental clutter and face head-on all the contradictory goals and obligations that are crowding your days.—Jessica Stillman
Jessica StillmanExamples of brain dump in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As for how to close those loops, Clary recommended starting with a brain dump: write down every unfinished task, text, or decision that has taking up space in your mind.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Lay out clothes, pack lunches, reorganize your work or school bags, and brain dump a to-do list for the following day.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Do a brain dump Robbins recommends starting every new week by dumping all of your thoughts onto a piece of paper.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2025
My buddy Joe, for instance, described his most active group chat with two old friends as a place for free-form spouting of nonsense, a diaristic brain dump best used while waiting in line at the bagel place.
—Matthew Schnipper, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025
But that was probably the least notable quote from the Las Vegas listening party, doing which West delivered another classic brain dump (which was captured on Instagram Live and shared widely on social media).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024
Doing a brain dump really helps to let everything out.
—Nicole Pajer, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2024
Practicing regular brain dumps, especially at the start of the day, is a powerful way to streamline one’s focus on what matters most.
—Karin Eldor, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
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Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Lay out clothes, pack lunches, reorganize your work or school bags, and brain dump a to-do list for the following day.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Do a brain dump Robbins recommends starting every new week by dumping all of your thoughts onto a piece of paper.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2025
My buddy Joe, for instance, described his most active group chat with two old friends as a place for free-form spouting of nonsense, a diaristic brain dump best used while waiting in line at the bagel place.
—Matthew Schnipper, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025
But that was probably the least notable quote from the Las Vegas listening party, doing which West delivered another classic brain dump (which was captured on Instagram Live and shared widely on social media).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024
Doing a brain dump really helps to let everything out.
—Nicole Pajer, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2024
Practicing regular brain dumps, especially at the start of the day, is a powerful way to streamline one’s focus on what matters most.
—Karin Eldor, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Brain dump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20dump. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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