brainstorm

nouns

the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation

brainstorm, brainwave, insight

try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it

brainstorm

is derived from

is a type of (narrower)

use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments

"I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere"