debrief

verb

Definition of debriefnext
as in to interrogate
to officially ask (someone) about a job that has been done or about an experience Police debriefed the hostages upon their return. The pilot was debriefed after his flight.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debrief The final clip features Knoxville and Tremaine sitting on a motel bed, debriefing after a particularly dangerous stunt. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 The system should help managers understand what the data means, debrief the results, identify business implications, build action plans, recommend stakeholders and track behavior change over time. — Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 Ben tells João about his argument with Daisy, and João suggests the three of them have a head of department (HOD) dinner that night, to debrief and reset. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026 Fox said Williams was debriefed in September 2015 and signed a nondisclosure agreement. — Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debrief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debrief
  1. interrogate
  2. question
  3. examine
Verb
  • Animals Soul Blind Larissa Diakiw On interrogating fear and what bats can teach about human connection.
    — Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There is a black tarpaulin on the wall that’s been assaulted with paint and more than a dozen lamps suspended above it, blasting the painting with light as if to interrogate it about the circumstances of its creation.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of interrogate
Verb
  • The attorney also said Acevedo Sanchez was not questioned until he was taken to an ICE holding facility in downtown Baltimore.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nvidia's effort challenges that assumption, transforming AI compute capacity into long-term, bankable infrastructure, though skeptics may question whether AI chips can retain their value as newer generations emerge.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of question
Verb
  • Last year, President Claudia Sheinbaum formed an investigative unit to re-examine the case, and the new attorney general, Ernestina Godoy, began a re-analysis.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Two hours after the game, 16 groundskeepers were still examining every inch of the field and making repairs.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of examine

Browse Nearby Words

debonair
debrief
debriefed
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Cite this Entry

“Debrief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debrief. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on debrief

Nglish: Translation of debrief for Spanish Speakers

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