facilitate

[ fuh-sil-i-teyt ]

verb (used with object)

, fa·cil·i·tat·ed, fa·cil·i·tat·ing.

1. to make easier or less difficult; help forward (an action, a process, etc.):

   Careful planning facilitates any kind of work.

2. to lead or moderate (a discussion, workshop, etc.), especially as a person trained to do so:

   An instructor will facilitate the online discussions, providing students with the questions beforehand.

3. to assist the progress of (a person).

facilitate

/ fəˈsɪlɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. tr to make easier; assist the progress of

Derived Forms

• faˈcilitative, adjective
• faˈciliˌtator, noun

Other Words From

• fa·cil·i·ta·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of facilitate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; facilit(y) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Spiritual gurus who use their power to facilitate sexual encounters with their students are something of a cliché.

From The Daily Beast

Not all hospices will agree to facilitate self-dehydration, so Schwarz refers patients to those that will.

From The Daily Beast

The State Department reportedly said it helped facilitate the transfer.

From The Daily Beast

Sicilian seaports that will facilitate the shipment have already stepped up security measures, especially on incoming vessels.

From The Daily Beast

The research will be used to make advances in robotic technology and facilitate smoother interactions between humans and robots.

From The Daily Beast

They both rose and each carrying his hat in his hand, the better to facilitate "thinking," went silently onward again.

From Project Gutenberg

But the gateways have been standing for ages and it would be sacrilege to think of tearing them down to facilitate traffic.

From Project Gutenberg

By what right will a machine despise another machine, whose springs would facilitate its own play?

From Project Gutenberg

The putative father may be asked to make his payments in such a way as to facilitate the recovery of the loan from the mother.

From Project Gutenberg

Every cottager maintained his own light or combination of lights to facilitate identification by approaching visitors.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aid
• ease
• expedite
• further
• help
• promote
• simplify
• speed