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
Apart from debriefing after the trip to the winery, this was a big episode for dates.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
After the little girl’s exam, Welsh debriefs with the attending physician in the hall.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Fox said Williams was debriefed in September 2015 and signed a nondisclosure agreement.
—Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Mason’s guess is that the future of the Canucks front office may not be settled precisely at the end of the season, when Rutherford meets with the media to debrief on a season that has been nothing short of a debacle.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
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Tom Smyth, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
After the little girl’s exam, Welsh debriefs with the attending physician in the hall.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Fox said Williams was debriefed in September 2015 and signed a nondisclosure agreement.
—Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Mason’s guess is that the future of the Canucks front office may not be settled precisely at the end of the season, when Rutherford meets with the media to debrief on a season that has been nothing short of a debacle.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debrief
Cite this Entry
“Debrief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debrief. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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
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