A good icebreaker question is a way of getting people involved and stirring the conversation up. It could be as short as a simple greeting or as long as someone’s life story, but it has to capture the interest of those being asked so that they’ll be willing to share.
An icebreaker question helps people become familiar with each other. Icebreakers are used in many different situations, such as meetings and games. The following paragraphs detail examples of icebreaker questions for specific circumstances.
In a board meeting or staff meeting, an icebreaker question would be something along the lines of “What was your favorite part about this past weekend?” This can help people who don’t typically socialize outside of work get to know the coworkers they work with all day long but really still know very little about. It can also be useful for employees to use during their first few days on the job; not only does it create a more relaxed atmosphere, but it gets them thinking about their weekend which may have been a week or even months ago.
Icebreaker questions are appropriate in most social situations where people need to get to know each other. For example, this might mean asking these kinds of icebreaker questions at parties, at gatherings with friends you haven’t seen in a while or just when you meet someone new. You can mix it up by phrasing the question multiple ways—for example, “What was your favorite part about your weekend?” and “Did you do anything fun over the weekend?” are both good choices. The idea is that they start conversations on topics everyone is interested in (their personal lives) but don’t require more than one person has knowledge of (thus, the other person won’t feel embarrassed or excluded).
When playing a game at a party or gathering, icebreaker questions are good for getting to know the other players. They will keep everyone engaged by asking questions that are easy to answer but require thought. An icebreaker question for a board game might be “What is your favorite board game?” or “What is your favorite sport?” For an icebreaker question for card games, it could be something along the lines of “In what city do you want to visit before you die?” These kinds of ice breaker questions allow people to share their interests and get out of their comfort zones a little bit. When everyone feels more comfortable with each other, the game can become even more fun.
Here is an extensive list of 191 interesting ice breaker questions. I’m sure one will suit you just fine!
- What animal would you like to be?
- What was your first car?
- If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
- What is your favorite movie?
- What was the first concert you ever attended?
- How would you describe the perfect date, and where would it be at?
- If a genie granted you 3 wishes, what would they be?
- When did you last apologize and to whom?
- What key change in a song do you wish never happened? Why does it bother you so much?
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
- What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in life so far?
- How long have you lived at your current address?
- How many brothers and sisters do you have? How old are they?
- Do you see yourself marrying the person you’re dating or anyone in the next 5 years? 10 years? Ever?
- What was the best piece of advice someone ever gave to you, and when did he/she give it to you. Who was this person and why does his/her advice stick with you still today?
- What is your favorite magazine?
- Who is your role model and why?
- What’s the most mind-blowing thing about this universe that you’ve discovered so far, even if it has nothing to do with science or space or anything “factual”?
- If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
- Do you think there’s life on other planets? Why/why not?
- Have you ever seen a ghost / spirit / UFO / alien before? If so, describe what happened.
- When was the last time you laughed out loud at something not related to laughing at someone else, like an inside joke or TV show or book or anything besides just plain everyday conversation?
- What was the last picture that made you laugh out loud?
- If a movie was made about your life, what would be the title and who would play you?
- What famous person have you most recently seen in real life? What was it like seeing them in person? This can be a favorite celeb or just anyone famous.
- What’s something everyone should own but doesn’t?
- What book(s) are on your nightstand right now and why did you choose those ones to read now? Are there any books on your nightstand that will never be read because they’re outdated/irrelevant now or because they were never relevant & always will be irrelevant & reading it is a waste of time/energy/money? If so, which ones?
- If you had to choose only one thing to bring with you on a desert island for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
- What is something that has recently changed about you?
- What are some habits that are annoying but endearing at the same time?
- What are some things that annoy you but people love anyway?
- How many siblings do you have and what are their names? How old are they? Do any of them live near by / visit often/come over often/ call often etc.?
- Do you prefer sugar in your coffee or not?
- What is your favorite season? Why?
- What is the most recent dream you remember having and what was it about?
- If you were given a million dollars, what would you do with it?
- What’s the worst gift anyone has ever given you and why was it so bad?
- When was the last time you sang out loud — in the shower, in public, anywhere? Did people stare/laugh/join in or what happened? (This can also be “name one thing that made you laugh out loud this week.” Or any variation here of questions like these)
- What is something that most people believe to be true even though it isn’t really true at all but they think it is anyway & cling to this belief even though it doesn’t really make sense or hold any truth?
- What are some things that don’t interest you but seem to interest everyone else?
- If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?
- When was your first kiss? How old were you? Who was it with?
- What is something weird that most people don’t know about yourself but if they did they’d probably think it was weird?
- Have you ever had a psychic experience or intuition that turned out to be true/accurate? If so, what was it like and how has it effected the way you view life since then?
- What is something most people don’t know about you but if they did they’d probably think it was interesting or at least different from what most people would expect of you based on your public persona (or whatever)?
- What’s the last dream you remember having and what happened in it?
- When was the last time you spent money on something unnecessary just because it felt good to treat yourself even though logically there were other things that should’ve been prioritized instead of this less practical luxury purchase? What kind of thing was it? Where did you buy it from? How much did it cost?
- What was the spark that caused you to begin your search for something more in life?
- What are some of your favorite things about yourself ? What are some attributes/traits/talents etc. that others have praised you for or given you compliments on and why do those specifically appeal to you so much & make you feel good about yourself / confident / appreciative of those people’s comments, timing, opportunity, place in life, offering as a gift etc.?
- Who is someone who inspires you and how have they inspired you?
- What kinds of activities do/would give you a sense of meaning / purpose if specific comes to mind yet regarding this question?
- What is the story of your life up until this point and why did it turn out that way / lead to where you are right now in terms of college/marriage/children / job / living arrangement etc.?
- What were some important choices leading up to today and what did these choices entail (ie. educational paths taken, jobs held, moves across country or just within the same city), any regrets, coincidences between two seemingly unrelated decisions that later on played a role in your current life circumstances / thinking about things / new belief systems whatever else)?
- What do you think happens after we die ?
- If you had the chance to live somewhere besides where you do now but it was expensive would you take it?
- What would you do with your time if that were the case?
- What is something you really want to change about yourself and how come ?
- What is something good, true or beautiful about life on earth what specifically makes it so wonderful?
- In what ways do you respect other people’s beliefs / religions / ideas / political affiliations etc.? In what ways don’t you ? Why exactly not ? How does this affect your relationships with these kinds of people in general and where did this attitude of respect vs. disrespect originate from originally?
- What is the most beautiful/perfect/amazing thing you’ve ever witnessed and what happened that caused you to see it like this?
- Who is your favorite author, poet or writer and why do their writings appeal to you so much ? What specific things about them elicit such a reaction in you & where did these feelings originally come from?
- What kind of music moves / inspires / motivates you and why ?
- What are some things you wish you could tell your parents / friends / relatives about life, death, living etc. but they just wouldn’t understand so you keep it to yourself ?
- How do you spend most of your free time and why does it appeal to you this way & what would happen if one day that stopped being an option for whatever reason (ie. can’t leave home, circumstances change in own family household etc.)?
- What is something that scares the crap out of you but seems worth doing anyway?
- If someone was throwing a party celebrating nothing in particular what kind of party would it be and who would be invited? Why exactly those people & not others? What would make this party particularly special for you?
- What is the one thing that bothers you most about this planet ?
- How do/would you want to be remembered after your time here on earth is over and why specifically as such – who will remember you & how , what kind of mark will you leave behind, what’s important enough to take up space in a landfill etc.?
- What makes people beautiful- external / internal / both? Who are some examples of these kinds of people & why ?
- In what ways does inner beauty outweigh outer beauty etc. or vice versa ?
- What activities gives you the most satisfaction or pleasure & why ?
- How good is your memory for things that happened long ago vs. only fairly recently?
- Have any of your ancestors done anything historical and if so what specifically was their role and how did this come to be known by the present generation? Has this changed your opinion about either them or yourself or neither one – why/why not ?
- If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why?
- What makes you feel like you’re right here on this planet & not somewhere else at the moment?
- What makes you sad/angry / amused / excited / frustrated etc.?
- When were some of your most joyful moments in your life and what specifically made them so special for you? In what ways does that joy still remain today or have things changed since then & why exactly ? Do you think there is a limit as to how much joy a person can experience in their lifetime – why/why not ?
- If you could change one thing in the world but weren’t able to tell anyone else this & still have it magically happen what would it be?
- What kinds of things are truly worth dying for and why do you think these are the only ones that qualify?
- How many humans are required in order to create a sense of community/belonging/family in your opinion and why specifically this number?
- What is your definition of leadership and how does this make sense when compared with other perspectives on the subject ? What makes an ideal leader according to this definition ? Who or what influenced your thinking on this topic or did it come about in some other way entirely & why might that specific cause or person be especially relevant ?
- When did you last feel like a child and how does it make sense that this experience could still come over you at the present time , even though there’s no physical reason for this to be possible any longer (ie. because of your age)?
- What is something about yourself that makes other people think less of you upon first meeting?
- What is your favorite place on Earth and why? How does this make sense given all the other places you’ve been to or plan on going to in future & how does it compare with other people’s answers to this question (if you’re comfortable sharing yours & their responses, that is)? If not, why not?
- What makes people think that they have a right to stand up for their beliefs? Do you feel that humans have more rights than animals or is it vice versa ? Why would someone bother giving themselves more rights than others in the first place – why wouldn’t everyone just agree to be on equal footing from the get go , having respect for one another’s individuality instead of trying to elevate oneself at the expense of others ?
- If you had to choose only 3 emotions (out of all possible ones) and no others, which ones would they be and why? Can you describe them/give an example of each & how would you put them in order from most positive to least positive or least negative to most?
- What are some examples of logical fallacies that you have encountered in real life? How did you personally evaluate the situation from an objective point of view instead of being influenced by either side’s way of arguing their points, if ever? If not, why do you think people find it so easy to be drawn into these kinds of arguments even though they seem silly while viewed from a rational perspective ?
- How does one learn – or how can one teach themselves – to let go ? And what might letting go entail in different contexts e.g. abandoning oneself vs. abandoning one’s loved ones vs. abandoning beliefs , to name a few ?
- What is the general structure of arguments & how can you break them down in order to make sense of them? What are some classic examples of this that everyone should know about ?
- What makes people automatically assume that other people are/aren’t good enough based just on 1st impressions?
- What would it be like to never feel guilt before having done something ( or not done it ) – is this even possible for someone who has a conscience?
- Do 2 wrongs make a right ? How would you quantify wrongness anyway – is there really such a thing as being wrong or does that just depend on the situation?
- What do you think about the old adage “it takes 1 to 1,000 bad apples to spoil the bunch” ?
- What are some tips for making friends &/or staying in touch with them ?
- How would you define altruism & how important is it in practice (i.e. practicing what you preach)?
- Why do people feel so inclined to shift blame when they’re in trouble?
- What are your thoughts on capitalism vs socialism vs communism etc.? What problems can you see arising from each system (if any) & how would you wish to solve these issues (i.e. if you’re for one of these systems)?
- What are some arguments that people use to defend their own privilege (e.g. racism, sexism etc.)?
- What do you think is more important: trying to convince others or yourself ? Is there ever a time when it’s acceptable to be manipulative , if so, under which circumstances?
- Why is it important not to burn bridges & what might this concept entail?
- How do people decide whether to trust somebody new?
- What role has media [print, televised, digital] & various forms of entertainment [films, books, etc.] played in the formation of your worldview?
- What is the point of getting angry at somebody who has already wronged you if nothing can be done about it now (e.g. they’ve died or are unavailable to talk with)?
- What do we live for? Why do we die? What does it mean to have a fulfilling life as opposed to just existing ?
- If nothing happened after death , would you still strive to be productive & good in your own personal life now or not care at all?
- How much does one’s degree of knowledge about the afterlife affect their motivation(s) towards being good / being evil, etc.?
- What is the likelihood that somebody will tell you something untrue – either intentionally or unintentionally ?
- What are some strategies for telling whether somebody is lying to us & what might one do when they believe that somebody has lied to them?
- How can one judge whether someone is trustworthy or not?
- How might you go about presenting yourself in a way that minimizes misunderstandings, miscommunications , etc.?
- What are some strategies for making it easier to get along with somebody?
- What is the point of modern society and culture ? Should we try to make it better or not ? How much can we really change &/or improve upon existing systems (e.g. capitalism, communism) and what problems might we encounter along the way? What alternatives exist?
- Why do people spend their time doing things that ostensibly don’t matter / contribute nothing useful / useful only in a very indirect way (e.g. watching television, playing computer games)?
- If you could reprogram your brain so that instead of feeling pleasure when eating unhealthy food , you felt the same way about healthy food , what would be different?
- What were your best & worst experiences with talking about intensely personal topics / sharing very private thoughts with somebody else ?
- What is your own perception of your memory ?
- What are your most & least successful strategies for getting yourself to do things you don’t want to do (e.g. studying, doing chores, exercising)?
- What would be your dream job ? Is it possible that the skills required for this job already exist within you? Would you enjoy having this job?
- Does it matter whether somebody enjoys their work or not?
- How should we deal with people who don’t seem to have any meaningful talent or ability compared to other individuals?
- Is there any reason why a person should care about being talented / dexterous / strong, smart etc.?
- Shouldn’t everybody just try and find something they’re good at and focus on that as much as can until the day they die?
- What’s the best way to spend your free time ? How can one spend their free time more productively ? Why do these questions matter? In what ways might people benefit from spending less time on distractions & more time doing things that require a lot of concentration e.g. studying/reading?
- Can being alone for long periods of time have negative effects on people, even if they enjoy being alone most of the time?
- What makes friendships & relationships so complicated?
- How much control do you have over your own character / personality / mood etc.? Is it possible for us to control our moods, or is it something that just happens to us?
- What determines a person’s character ?
- What do you think would be the most enjoyable way of spending a day ? What sorts of activities have you found particularly enjoyable in the past? Do decisions about how to spend your time reflect who you are as a person? How so / how not?
- How would one go about mastering a skill from scratch (e.g. dancing, playing tennis, programming)? How can one get better at drawing ? What more & less effective strategies are there for practicing an instrument i.e. piano , guitar etc.?
- What’s the most reliable source of knowledge / information about science / philosophy etc.?
- How much control do we have over events in our lives? Is it possible to live a good life if everything that happens to us is outside of our control (e.g. living in a war zone)?
- What can people practically do to improve their circumstances?
- Are some things inevitable , no matter what we try and do about them (e.g. getting old; dying)?
- When is it appropriate for somebody to withhold information from another person who wants this information (e.g. medical history, past criminal record etc.)
- What’s the best way for two people / groups of people to resolve a conflict ? How can people resolve conflicts without resorting to violence?
- How often do your emotions reflect the situation you’re in i.e. if somebody angers you, do you usually get angry or laugh?
- What’s more difficult – taking care of somebody else’s needs or making sure your own needs are met? Why might these be particularly hard things to do at the same time?
- What’s more important – getting people to like you or telling them things they don’t want to hear?
- What would you do if you were accepted into every college / university of your choice?
- What would you say if somebody told you there was a magic pill that allowed you to learn anything instantly ?
- Why is it more difficult for some people to ‘turn off’ an argument than others?
- Are there any industries which would go out of business if everybody were smart / healthy / rich etc.?
- How important was your upbringing in helping you understand the world and achieve what you have today?
- Why do people believe that they’re bad at something when really what they mean is that it’s difficult for them to do
- What makes a person selfish?
- What makes somebody beautiful?
- Why do some people look better in photographs than they do in real life ?
- Which being would be most dangerous if all its natural predators were extinct – an elephant; shark or mosquito?
- Why is the future so difficult to predict e.g. weather; population growth; technology?
- Does knowing more about what will happen make us happier ?
- If there were no laws – no rules for people to follow – what would society be like (e.g. chaos)? How important are deadlines & rules for keeping order in society ?
- How do you think artificial intelligence & computer programming will impact our world over the next 100 years?
- How will artificial intelligence affect jobs (e.g. medical; teaching)?
- What might be the consequences of computers taking over our jobs ?
- Has technology made people smarter / more intelligent or less intelligent?
- Is it possible that there are now too many distractions for society to focus on the important issues, and therefore we’re forgetting how to use our own brains properly ?
- What is the best way to deal with stress – e.g. physical exercise; writing things down in a diary; sleeping?
- If someone has limited time & effort to spend on making themselves happier , what should they do – e.g. cut back on activities, have more fun/entertainment, bigger life changes , etc.?
- How can you explain the feeling of being in a place that you’ve never been before ?
- On which does human accomplishment depend more – intelligence or hard work ?
- How much does luck influence your success in life?
- Why are some people so secretive about their personal lives?
- Are celebrities entitled to more privacy than other people?
- How much money do you need to live a happy life?
- Do you feel that there is a difference between doing an activity as a hobby and doing it as a career ?
- How important are deadlines & rules for keeping order in society ?
- Where do your thoughts come from, why they exist at all?
- If you were the president of a country, what is the first thing you would change ?
- What types of jobs require math skills?
- Why is it so difficult for some people to apologize sincerely ?
- If you had to choose, would you rather have a job that gives you lots of free time or one that requires more hours ?
- How can you tell if someone is lying to you?
- If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
- What are the pros and cons of having more than one social media account – e.g. Twitter; Facebook; Google+?
- Which do people value more highly – time or money?
- Does everybody have an opinion about everything, or only about things they know a lot about ?
- If somebody does something wrong, is it better to tell them directly or ignore it?
- What makes something ‘cool’?
- Do you think young people are more creative than older people ?
- What is your earliest memory?
- Who’d win between Spiderman & Superman?
- If you were given $100k tomorrow but had to give it back next year , how would you spend it – i.e. if there was no chance of earning any interest or investing it so you could keep it?
- If you had a magic genie that would grant you three wishes, what would your first wish be ?
- If you won the lottery , what would you spend the money on ?
- What occupies most of your time during the average weekday – social media; TV; sport; work etc.?
- Would you prefer to have all your needs provided for you i.e. food, clothing & shelter, but never earn any money of your own , or to have a reasonable amount of money to buy the things you need but work every day ?
- If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be – e.g. breakfast; lunch; dinner etc.?
- What is something that everybody should do at least once in their lifetime and why?
- What is it that makes two people instantly dislike each other when they first meet – e.g. in a new job, class at university etc.?
- How would you describe your personality in one sentence to somebody who’d never met you before ?
- If you could be royalty for a day , what would you do ?
We hope you enjoyed this list of ice breaker questions. Remember, it’s always best to ask an open-ended question that will get your group on their feet and talking rather than asking a yes or no answer. Be sure to find out what people are interested in so you can tailor the conversation accordingly.
Do any stand out as particularly intriguing? What would be your favorite ice breaker question and why?
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