facilitate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make easier or less difficult; help forward (an action, a process, etc.).
Careful planning facilitates any kind of work.
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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.
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to assist the progress of (a person).
verb
Other Word Forms
- facilitative adjective
- facilitator noun
Etymology
Origin of facilitate
First recorded in 1605–15; facilit(y) + -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That data is considered highly sensitive because it can be used to commit identity theft, access financial or government records, and facilitate targeted harassment or intimidation, particularly if the data were mishandled or leaked.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
While Hughes awaits the outcome of the consultation, he said he wants to facilitate have a national conversation about a subject that is often seen as taboo.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
“While these are precisely the students who will now be protected from excessive federal loans they could not repay, further steps should be considered to facilitate their access to advanced degrees.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
Anthropic’s usage guidelines prohibit Claude from being used to facilitate violence, develop weapons, or conduct surveillance.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
“I’m here on behalf of the Oakland Police Department to help facilitate a fair exchange of ideas.”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
