113 Ice Breaker Questions That Work Every Time
Ice breaker questions can get a bad rap but that doesn’t mean you should write them off just yet. These thought-provoking and entertaining questions are intended to encourage team building and foster togetherness.
Just like the best Never Have I Ever Questions, ice breaker questions don’t have to be boring and cringe-worthy, they can be an exciting way to learn about your peers and include an array of random questions to ask. From funny questions for colleagues to intimate questions to get to know someone better, there is a wide range of questions to get the conversation flowing.
What are the funniest ice breaker questions? Ice breakers can be a hilarious way to connect with your coworkers or a fun way to get your group talking and interacting with one another. They can be used in a variety of settings from work to first dates.
There are so many great reasons to use ice breaker questions, such as hilarious would you rather questions or Who’s Most Likely To questions, so pick your favorites and get cracking.
Jump to Section
- What Is an Ice Breaker Question?
- Why Do We Need Ice Breakers?
- Ice Breaker Questions for Adults
- Ice Breaker Questions for Work
- Ice Breaker Questions for Dating
- Ice Breaker Questions for Friends
- Funny Ice Breaker Questions
- Ice Breaker Questions for Students
- Virtual Ice Breaker Questions
- What Are Some Ways To Keep People Engaged?
What Is an Ice Breaker Question?
Ice breaker questions are a way to warm up or kick off a group gathering. They are designed to make people feel more at home in their environment while getting to know those around them on a deeper level. Ice breakers don’t always have to be questions.
There are a variety of engaging ice breaker games that can also lighten the mood and ease everyone into a collaborative and social spirit. Ice breaker questions are designed to alleviate barriers to forming a social connection such as awkwardness, anxiety and maybe even fear of meeting new people.
These fun questions can be a great tool to foster connections among strangers and there are so many different types of team building games to explore.
Why Do We Need Ice Breakers?
Ice breaker questions can be used for a variety of situations such as to dispel nerves on a first date or get the conversation going at a book club or knitting circle.
They are also commonly used as a team building activity for new work teams or for coworkers that don’t frequently interact outside of work. Ice breakers can be funny, professional or deep questions to ask, and everything in between.
Team building excursions such as cooking classes, pottery classes and paint and sips can be a great choice for out-of-the-box team building events. Discover cooking classes near you for your next unforgettable ice breaker experience.
Ice Breaker Questions for Adults
Ice breaker questions for adults can be an exciting way for people to bond over shared life experiences. From favorite dog breeds to annoying chores, there is sure to be a fun question to help bond with others.
1. Are you a good dancer?
2. What is a funny (appropriate) pick-up line that works for you?
3. What is your favorite restaurant?
4. What is one task you always put off?
5. What dog breed would you be?
6. What is your favorite chore to do around the house?
7. What is the worst financial decision you’ve ever made?
8. What is the last great TV show or movie you wanted?
9. What is the best book you’ve ever read?
10. What is your favorite hobby?
11. What is your favorite way to waste time?
12. What would the title of your autobiography be?
13. If you were independently wealthy and did not have to work, what would you do with your time?
14. What fictional family would you be a member of?
15. What is your favorite breakfast food?
16. What’s your dream vacation?
17. How long could you survive without the internet?
Ice Breaker Questions for Work
Getting to know your coworkers can be challenging and intimidating. These ice breaker questions for work can help employees become more collaborative and efficient as coworkers. Maybe you'd also like to share your favorite positive quotes for work as part of breaking the ice.
According to Forbes, team building is an important investment that boosts productivity and improves employee retention rates.
18. What app do you use the most on your phone?
19. What is your ideal career trajectory?
20. What would your unhinged email signature be if professionalism wasn’t a concern?
21. What is your job in a parallel universe?
22. Do you play any sports?
23. What is the easiest job you’ve ever had?
24. What is the best day of work you remember?
25. What was your first job?
26. What is the best self-help book you’ve ever read?
27. What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received from a mentor?
28. What is your most embarrassing workplace blunder?
29. What is your favorite meal of the day?
30. Have you completed anything on your “bucket list”?
31. What was the country you last visited outside of the United States?
32. What is one thing we don’t know about you?
33. What is the most out-of-character thing you’ve ever done?
Ice Breaker Questions for Dating
Skip the awkward silence of first dates and dive right into the good stuff. Get to know your date better with creative and fun ice breaker questions sure to make your night a success.
34. What are you most excited about this year?
35. If you had to delete all but three apps from your phone, which ones would you keep?
36. What is your pet peeve?
37. Do you have any nicknames?
38. Where is your favorite place in the entire world and why?
39. What activity or interest is a huge stress reliever for you?
40. Why did your last relationship not work out?
41. What is on your bucket list?
42. How would you describe yourself?
43. When was the last time you cried?
44. What are two truths and a lie about you?
45. What age would you choose to live at forever?
46. Where did you grow up?
47. What was the first dream you accomplished?
48. What is the most precious thing you own?
49. What would you tell your high school self?
Ice Breaker Questions for Friends
There’s always something new to learn about someone, even your closest friends. Explore these questions to ask your friends to strengthen the sacred bond of friendship.
50. What is your best scar story?
51. What is the most embarrassing moment from your teen years?
52. What is the craziest dare you ever took?
53. What is the most ridiculous thing your parents ever did to embarrass you?
54. What “old person” things do you do?
55. How long would you last in a zombie apocalypse?
56. What dance moves are you secretly awesome at?
57. What is your favorite holiday?
58. What is the best gift anyone has ever given you?
59. What was your favorite birthday party as a kid?
60. What do you pretend to hate but actually love?
61. What is the hardest physical challenge you’ve ever done?
62. What is one thing you love about yourself?
63. What is the dumbest lie you’ve ever told?
64. What is your biggest regret?
65. Do you have any irrational fears?
Funny Ice Breaker Questions
Humor brings everyone together. Bust out some of these witty conversation starters to get the laughter flowing and encourage a light sense of merry camaraderie among participants.
66. What is your most used emoji?
67. What is the worst haircut you’ve ever had?
68. Which celebrity would you pick to play you in a movie?
69. What is the worst food you’ve ever eaten?
70. Who was your childhood actor/actress crush?
71. If you were famous, what would you be famous for?
72. If you had to go back in time, where and when would you go?
73. What music is your guilty pleasure?
74. What is your favorite smell?
75. If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
76. What is your favorite magical or mythological creature?
77. Which celebrity do you shamelessly follow in the news?
78. What is your strangest habit?
79. What is your current phone wallpaper?
80. What is your favorite fast food meal?
81. If you could choose a different name for yourself, what would it be?
Ice Breaker Questions for Students
School can be a time of immense change and anxiety. Help students break through fear and worries with fun school-themed ice breaker questions.
82. What is your best study tip?
83. What is your favorite midnight snack?
84. Where is your favorite spot to study?
85. Name an imaginary class you wish this school offered.
86. What is your major?
87. If you had to pick a different major what would it be?
88. What is your favorite class?
89. What is your dream job?
90. What is the best thing about your hometown?
91. Besides graduating, what is your number one goal for your remaining time at college?
92. Describe your favorite teacher.
93. If you could live in a fantasy world, which would you pick?
94. What is one thing we would never guess about you?
95. What is your spirit animal?
96. Name one cool feature you would add to your dream house.
97. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen in public?
Virtual Ice Breaker Questions
Fostering teamwork through a screen can be a challenge. Team building can happen even if everyone is located hundreds of miles away from each other.
Humanize your coworkers in the virtual workplace with interesting ice breaker questions.
98. What is one thing we could do to improve our virtual meetings?
99. Be honest, how often do you work from bed?
100. Where do you work most frequently from at home? Your office? Your kitchen table? The backyard? Your bed?
101. Show us your office space!
102. How many cups of coffee or tea do you have each morning?
103. If you could learn one new professional skill, what would it be?
104. Show us your pet!
105. What does your typical work-from-home uniform look like?
106. How do you stay productive and motivated working virtually?
107. What does your morning routine look like when working from home?
108. Do you love working from home or would you rather be in the office? Is there a balance of both that you like best?
109. What is the best part of working from home?
110. What is the best part about working in the office?
111. What product can you not live without during your workday?
112. What is your favorite way to spend your lunch break?
113. What is the worst job you've ever had?
What Are Some Ways to Keep People Engaged?
Funny ice breaker questions for adults are a great way to keep people engaged and can encourage bonding and collaboration among coworkers. They are a great way to bridge the gap from awkward silence to engaging discussions.
Ice breaker questions aren’t the only way to keep a group of people engaged. There are plenty of other employee engagement ideas to keep your employees feeling excited about their workplace environment.
Ice breakers are a fun way to build relationships among coworkers, jazz up a first date conversation or ease the tension in the classroom on the first day of the semester. From funny ice breaker questions to thoughtful personal queries, there is an ice breaker for every occasion.
For even more fun team building ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
