224 Ice Breaker Questions That Bring People Together

When a large group of people are thrown into a classroom, workplace, or party for the first time, it can be difficult getting the conversation flowing.

Icebreaker questions are a great way to break the tension, but some traditional prompts can sometimes veer into divisive territory or tasteless would-you-rather questions that “otherize” people.

Fortunately, we’ve drawn up a long list of questions that allow people to get to know one another in a safe and comfortable environment.

So whether you are leading a group of new students, friends, or colleagues — on or off Zoom — we have curated the ultimate list of fun icebreakers that can relieve anxiety and open up endless good-hearted conversations.

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You might also like: Conversation Starters for Meaningful Connection | Deep Questions To Ask in Any Situation

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Ice breaker questions that get the conversation going

Empowering questions

What is something that you’ve accomplished in the last five years that you’re proud of?
What is your favorite trait about yourself?
What advice would you give your younger self?
What is the last nice thing you did for someone else?
Who is someone in your community that inspires you?
How do you give back to your community?
Which small business do you love to support?
Do you have a unique skill or talent that you are proud of?
What do you do to practice self-care after a long day?
What is a small thing in your day-to-day life that brings you joy?
What are you grateful for today?
How do you practice positive affirmations?
Is there an event in your life that went better than planned?
What is your favorite song that never fails to cheer you up?
What celebrity do you think you look the most like?
What is your favorite thing about your partner? If you’re single, what trait do you look for in a prospective partner?
What is your favorite thing about your country?
Who is your best friend, and why do they make your life better?
Is there an inspiring quote that helps get you through the day?
Which famous activists inspire you?
What is something you’ve always wanted to do for your community?

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Light-hearted questions

Who makes you laugh the most?
If you could have any five liquids come out of your fingers on one hand, what would they be?
What is your favorite go-to joke?
What is the silliest fashion craze you lived through?
What’s your favorite thing that you’ve ever thrifted?
What’s the first concert you went to?
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Have you ever made a music playlist for someone else? Has anyone ever made one for you?
What dance move are you secretly great at?
What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled? If not, is there one that you’ve always wanted to pull off?
What would you title your autobiography?
What is your go-to karaoke song?
What genre of music would you play if you were hosting a dinner party?
What is a book you wish you could read again for the first time?
What three emojis do you use the most?
What compliment do you receive the most?
What compliment do you wish you received more often?
When was the last time you laughed so hard you couldn’t talk?
Is there a childhood activity you wish you could incorporate more into your daily life?
How would you describe yourself in three words?
What is at the top of your bucket list?
Do you have any recurring dreams?
What’s a piece of good news that you learned lately?

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Would you rather questions

If you could time travel, would you rather visit the past or the future?
Would you rather live in a treehouse for a week or on a houseboat for a week?
Would you rather give an Oscars acceptance speech or a Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech?
Would you rather live in a foreign country for a year or spend 12 months in 12 different countries?
Would you rather have four full seasons or experience one season all year long?
Would you rather be a famous athlete or a famous movie star?
Would you rather have a personal chef or a personal assistant?
Would you rather speak all human languages or only be able to speak to animals?
Would you rather perform onstage with your favorite band, or be in the audience cheering them on?
Would you rather be a main character in a romantic comedy or an action-adventure film?
Would you rather pick one mood to be in for the rest of your life or change your mood every day?
Would you rather know one thing about your future or learn five things that you didn’t know about your past?
Would you rather perform on stage at a comedy show or host your own podcast?
Would you rather sing every time you speak or dance every time you move?
Would you rather have the ability to speak to animals or speak to plants?
Would you rather spend the day at the beach or spend the day at an amusement park?
Would you rather be an astronaut discovering new planets or a deep sea diver discovering new species?
Would you rather have the ability to never be late or never be lost?
Would you rather live your life a second time or be reincarnated into someone else?
Would you rather have the ability to fly or the ability to teleport?
Would you rather have the power to control the weather or control the time?

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Throwback questions

Where is your hometown? Do you have multiple places you would consider home?
What is your favorite home-cooked meal?
Is there a family tradition that is unique to your family?
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What games did you play as a kid? Were any of them made up?
Did you have a favorite children’s book growing up?
What TV show would you try to stay up and watch as a kid?
Who was your favorite family member growing up?
What is the best present you’ve ever received? What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?
What was your favorite room in your childhood home?
Who was your best childhood friend? Are you still in contact with them?
What was your silliest fear when you were younger?
What was your best Halloween costume?
Who was your favorite actor or actress when you were growing up?
What was one of your favorite trips you took as a child?
Is there a smell that is nostalgic for you?
What were your favorite subjects in school?
Did you have any pets as a kid? If not, which ones did you want to have?
What was your first job experience like?
Did you ever compete in a talent show? What was your talent as a kid?

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Questions about hobbies and interests

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
What is your feel-good guilty pleasure?
What is a skill or hobby that you would like to learn?
What’s your favorite holiday or awareness month?
What’s one thing you’re unbeatable at?
At a trivia night, which category do you know the most about?
What is your favorite sport to watch?
What is your favorite sport to play?
What TV show character are you most like?
What TV show could you watch on repeat and never grow tired of?
If you could get your friends together for a movie marathon of your choice, what movie franchise would you pick?
What movie do you wish they would make a sequel of?
What is a film that you wish more people had seen?
What is your favorite snack and drink combo when you go to a movie theater?
What’s a documentary that inspired you?
Do you have a favorite TED talk?
Do you play any instruments? If not, which one would you want to learn?
What is your favorite food to cook when you have guests over?
What is the best meal you’ve ever had at a restaurant?
What is your favorite thing to do on a hot summer day?
What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day indoors?
Which National Parks have you visited? Which ones would you like to visit?
Do you collect anything?
What hobbies do you think you’ll still be doing 20 years from now?

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You might also like: The Ultimate List of Hobbies To Try

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Fun hypothetical questions

If you could travel anywhere in the world at no cost, where would you go?
If you were to backpack through Europe, what countries would you want to visit?
If you could become fluent in any language overnight, what language would you choose?
If you could transform into any animal, which one would you pick?
If you had to transform into a werewolf, vampire, or ghost, which supernatural creature would you be?
If you could have dinner with any famous person — living or dead — who would you pick?
If you could plan a perfect meal, what would you eat?
If your pet could talk, what would they say?
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three books would you bring with you?
What movie do you wish you could live in?
If you were able to meet your favorite celebrity, what would you say to them?
If you could invent an ice cream flavor, what would be in it?
If you were a DJ at a club, what would your name be?
If you could play sports professionally, what team would you play on?
If you could plan out the perfect music festival, what three bands or musicians — living or dead — would you book?
If you could sing like any famous singer in the world, who would it be?
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?
If you could have an unlimited gift card for any business in the world, which one would you choose?
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
If you could donate a million dollars to any nonprofit organization in the world, which one would it be?

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Questions for work colleagues

If there was no dress code at work, how would you dress?
What’s something on or near your desk that cheers you up?
What is your favorite snack to have during a work break?
What does your morning routine look like before you clock in at work?
Do you have any favorite newsletters you subscribe to?
What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
If you could plan the next work party, what location would you pick?
Is there a TV show you wish more people at the office watched?
How do you stay motivated when you get stuck in a work slump?
If you could have an unlimited supply of beverages in the work fridge, which drink would you pick?
If the office started a sports league, which sport would we be the best at?
Which coworker would you like to learn more about?
If you could swap jobs with anyone in the company for a day, who would you choose?
If you could change the company name or logo, what would you change it to?
If we could keep any animal in the world as an office pet, which one would you choose?
What is something that gives you hope?
Who at work has influenced you the most?
What is your favorite thing about your job?
What three emotions would you use to describe your workday?
What is a small change that could make your work life better?
If your department doubled its budget overnight, how would you want that money to be spent?
What advice would you go back in time and give to yourself on the first day you started at the company?
What is your favorite company value?

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Questions to ask colleagues who work from home

If your window could magically look out to any place on the planet, what would your ideal view be?
What’s the funniest or strangest thing that’s ever happened to you during a meeting?
If you could work from anywhere in the world, which location would you pick?
Which website or app do you use the most?
Do you have a favorite news website? (Or a good news website?)
Do you have any house plants?
Which plant or flower is your favorite?
Do you have any exercises or stretches you like to do from home?
What is one book that you can strongly recommend to everyone attending this virtual meeting?
Is there a place in your home where you feel the most productive?
What is a work task that is easier to complete from home?
What do you typically do right after you log off from work?
What is your ideal setup for the perfect nap?
What is the strangest email sign-off you’ve ever read?
What is one object in the room with you right now that you’d like to share with your co-workers?
Which work accomplishment are you most proud of?
What are things that help you look for the light in tough situations?
Which colleague would you be the most excited to meet in real life?
Which colleague would you like to shout out for their hard work?
If the company were to mail you a care package, what three things would you love to find in it?
If the entire office were to meet up in one location for a reunion, where should we meet?

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Questions to ask students and young children

What is your favorite animal and why?
What is your favorite color? Do you own any clothes or accessories in that color?
What is your favorite fruit?
If you could swap grades with another student for a day, which grade would you want to be in?
Who is a kid who inspires you to make a difference?
What is your favorite type of weather?
What is your favorite season of the year? What is your favorite activity to do during that season?
Have you ever gone camping? If not, where would you want to go camping overnight?
If you could have any superpower in the world, which one would you choose?
What comic book hero would you like to meet in real life?
If you had to dress everyday like one cartoon character, which one would you pick?
What animal do you think is the ugliest? What animal do you think is the prettiest?
If you could choose what the cafeteria will serve this week, what food would you pick?
What is something artistic that you’ve created that you’re proud of?
If you could have a classroom pet, which one would it be?
What are some ways that you’ve been kind to animals in your life?
What board game would you want to bring in and play with everyone?
What’s your favorite game to play outside?
If you could have a magical garden with unlimited fruits and vegetables, which ones would you plant?
What animal would be the funniest pet to own?
What is one way you want to make a difference in the world?
What is your favorite thing to do after school?
What’s your favorite personality trait that you look for in a friend?
What would the perfect treehouse look like to you?
If you could visit any planet in the solar system, where would you go?

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Questions for college students

What is your major? What would your second choice for a major be?
How do you plan to do good in your career?
What is a cause that inspires you?
How do you practice activism?
What do you miss most about your hometown?
What comfort food reminds you of home?
What is one skill you have that would surprise your classmates?
If you could invent a new class at this college, what would it be?
What teacher has had the greatest impact on your education?
What is the most difficult class you’ve ever taken and why?
What is the weirdest class you’ve ever had to take online?
What is one thing you and your roommate have in common?
When was the last time you changed your mind about something?
What is your favorite underrated thing to do on campus?
If you could study abroad anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If you could start a new club or organization on campus, what would it be?
What would you bring in for show-and-tell as an adult?
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
If you could do a speech on any historical figure, who would it be and why?
How would you teach today’s lesson if you were the teacher?
What historical figure would you invite to be a substitute teacher for this class?
If you were to plan a perfect year-end party for this class, what would it entail?
What are you looking forward to most after graduating from college?
What will you miss the most about college?

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224 Ice Breaker Questions That Bring People Together