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
After the airport, Lewis-Martin went to Aidala’s office and, after debriefing with him, went on his evening program, as scheduled.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2024
In debriefing the news with our producing team, this was the question, our biggest disappointment remained that more people hadn’t even gotten the chance to see the first season.
—Sasha Leigh Henry, refinery29.com, 2 Oct. 2024
An American agent working for Russian intelligence could travel back and forth across the U.S.-Mexico border and meet up with Russian handlers to get paid, debriefed, resupplied and receive training on communication methods or other spycraft, London and other former CIA officers said.
—Owen Hayes, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2024
When the Traitors debrief in the turret, the atmosphere is tense.
—Molly Fitzpatrick, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debrief 
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2024
In debriefing the news with our producing team, this was the question, our biggest disappointment remained that more people hadn’t even gotten the chance to see the first season.
—Sasha Leigh Henry, refinery29.com, 2 Oct. 2024
An American agent working for Russian intelligence could travel back and forth across the U.S.-Mexico border and meet up with Russian handlers to get paid, debriefed, resupplied and receive training on communication methods or other spycraft, London and other former CIA officers said.
—Owen Hayes, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2024
When the Traitors debrief in the turret, the atmosphere is tense.
—Molly Fitzpatrick, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debrief
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Debrief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debrief. Accessed 4 Nov. 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
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