Icebreaker Questions

Need a question to start a meeting, a class or a first hangout? Press the button for a random icebreaker. Every one is easy to answer in a sentence or two, and none of them will make anyone squirm.

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The full list: 155 questions

Prefer to read them all? Every question in the generator is below.

Fun & quick (30)

What is the best snack of all time?
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
What is a small thing that makes your day better?
What fictional world would you most like to live in?
What is the most useless thing you own that you would never throw away?
If you could instantly become an expert in one thing, what would it be?
What song would you pick as your walk-up music?
What is your favorite way to waste time?
What was the last thing you binge-watched?
What is the best thing you have eaten this month?
If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be?
What is your most-used app, other than messaging?
Which decade would you most like to visit?
What is your go-to fun fact about yourself?
If you could only keep three apps on your phone, which would they be?
What is the best purchase you have made under $20?
Cats, dogs, or neither?
What is the weirdest food you have ever tried?
What would your theme song be?
If you could swap lives with any animal for a day, which one?
What is a movie you could watch over and over?
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
What is your hidden talent?
What is the most adventurous thing you have done?
What's a hobby you got into recently?
If you had a free Saturday with no obligations, what would you do?
What is the best concert or live show you've ever seen?
What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?
What is one thing on your bucket list?
What is the best compliment you have ever received?

Work & meetings (30)

What is one thing you're looking forward to this week?
What was your first job, and what did it teach you?
What is the best piece of career advice you have received?
What does your morning routine look like?
What is a skill you have picked up outside of work?
What is the best tool or app you use every day?
If you could have any job for a day, what would it be?
What is one work win from the last month?
Where do you do your best thinking?
What is a book, podcast or newsletter you would recommend?
What would you do with an extra hour every day?
Coffee, tea or neither?
What is the best team event you have ever been to?
What is a project you are proud of?
What would be your dream conference to speak at?
What is one thing that's surprised you about this job?
What is your favorite lunch spot near the office or home?
What is one thing everyone on the team should know about you?
What is the most interesting thing you have learned this year?
If our team were a band, what kind of music would we play?
What is your favorite way to celebrate a win?
What is one thing you'd like to get better at this year?
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
What's the best vacation you've taken?
What is your favorite productivity hack?
If you could add one perk to our workplace, what would it be?
What is something you do to recharge after a busy week?
What's a small habit that improved your work life?
What is the most unusual job you have had?
Who has been your best mentor, and what did they do well?

Virtual meetings (20)

What is the most interesting thing in your background right now?
Show us your favorite mug.
What does your workspace look like today?
What is the weather like where you are?
Are any pets nearby? Introduce them.
What is one item within arm's reach that tells us something about you?
What did you have for breakfast?
Slippers, socks or shoes right now?
What is your favorite thing about working from home?
What is the view from your window?
What is your go-to work-from-home lunch?
If you could teleport to any city for this meeting, where would you be?
What is the best thing that happened to you since the last time we met?
Rate your week out of 10 with one word to explain.
What is playing in your headphones lately?
Use an emoji to describe your mood today.
What is something you have been meaning to try?
What is one thing you're grateful for this week?
What's your favorite thing on your desk?
What is the last photo you took on your phone (that you're willing to share)?

Students & class (30)

What is your favorite subject and why?
What did you do over the break?
If you could learn about anything in school, what would it be?
What is the best book you have ever read?
What is your favorite thing to do after school?
If you could be any animal for a day, which one?
What is something you are really good at?
Who is your favorite fictional character?
What is one goal you have for this year?
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it celebrate?
What is your favorite video game or board game?
What would you do if you were principal for a day?
What is the coolest place you have ever visited?
What is your favorite sport to play or watch?
If you could have any pet, what would it be?
What is your favorite movie of all time?
What is something you want to learn to do?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What is the best field trip you have been on?
If you could meet any famous person, who would it be?
What is your go-to snack?
Would you rather go to the past or the future?
What's a song you can't stop listening to?
What is one thing that always makes you smile?
If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
What is your favorite season?
What is one thing you're nervous about this year?
What's the most interesting fact you know?
If you had a superpower for one school day, which would you pick?
What's your favorite thing about yourself?

Get to know you (30)

Where did you grow up, and what was it like?
What do you do for fun?
What is your idea of a perfect day?
What is something you're passionate about?
What is the best trip you have ever taken?
What are you currently reading, watching or listening to?
Do you have any siblings? What are they like?
What is your favorite meal to cook?
What is something you've always wanted to try?
What would your friends say is your best quality?
What did you want to be when you were younger?
What is your favorite way to relax?
Are you a planner or spontaneous?
What is a tradition from your family you love?
What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
What is your favorite place in this city?
What is something most people don't know about you?
Are you more of an early bird or a night owl?
What is your favorite season and why?
What makes you laugh the hardest?
What was the highlight of your last year?
What is a skill you're proud of?
Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
What's a movie or show you'd recommend to anyone?
What's a small thing that annoys you more than it should?
What is your go-to karaoke song?
What is a goal you're working toward?
What's the best concert you've been to?
What's your favorite way to spend a rainy day?
What three words would describe you?

Deeper (15)

What is something you've learned about yourself in the past year?
Who has influenced you the most?
What is a decision that changed your life?
What does a good friendship look like to you?
What is something you used to believe that you no longer do?
When do you feel most at peace?
What are you most grateful for?
What is a challenge you're proud of overcoming?
What would you want your legacy to be?
What's something that always gives you hope?
What is a risk you're glad you took?
If you could relive one day, which would it be?
What is something you want to be better at?
What is a small act of kindness you still remember?
What do you wish more people understood about you?

How to use icebreaker questions

Pick a category that fits the room: work, students, virtual or new friends.
Draw one question and ask the whole group. One question is enough for most meetings.
Go around in order so nobody has to volunteer, and let people pass.
Answer it yourself first. It shows the length and tone you're looking for.
Keep it to 30 to 60 seconds a person. For large groups, use breakout rooms or pairs.

Playing offline? Card games we like

Icebreaker question cards
A deck to keep on the desk for meetings, workshops and classes.
See it on Amazon
Team building activity kit
Boxed exercises for offsites and longer team sessions.
See it on Amazon
Table topics conversation cards
The classic conversation starter cube, good for dinner parties too.
See it on Amazon

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Questions people ask

What is a good icebreaker question?

A good icebreaker is easy to answer in a sentence, has no wrong answer, and gives people a small window into each other. 'What's a small thing that makes your day better?' works better than 'Tell us about yourself'.

What are good icebreakers for work meetings?

Questions about routines, recommendations and small wins work well: 'What's one thing you're looking forward to this week?' or 'What tool could you not live without?'. Avoid anything about politics, religion, money or family situations.

How long should an icebreaker take?

For a regular meeting, five minutes or less. Ask one question and limit each answer to about 30 seconds. Save longer games for team-building sessions.

What are icebreakers for virtual meetings?

Questions people can answer by looking around them work well on video calls: show your mug, describe the view from your window, introduce a pet. See the 'Virtual meetings' category.