facilitate

American  

[fuh-sil-i-teyt] / fəˈsɪl ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

facilitates, present (3rd person singular) facilitated, past participle, past facilitating present participle

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).

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facilitate British  

/ fəˈsɪlɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to make easier; assist the progress of

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• facilitator
  noun
• facilitative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• facilitating
  present
• facilitated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• facilitate
  simple
• facilitates
  simple
• have facilitated
  perfect
• has facilitated
  perfect
• am facilitating
  progressive
• are facilitating
  progressive
• is facilitating
  progressive
• have been facilitating
  perfect progressive
• has been facilitating
  perfect progressive

Past

• facilitated
  simple
• had facilitated
  perfect
• was facilitating
  progressive
• were facilitating
  progressive
• had been facilitating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will facilitate
  simple
• will have facilitated
  perfect
• will be facilitating
  progressive
• will have been facilitating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of facilitate

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

Explanation

To facilitate means to make something easier. If your best friend is very shy, you could facilitate her efforts to meet new people. Facilitate comes from the Latin facilis, for "easy." It means to make something easier or more likely to happen. You facilitate growth or a process, as opposed to, say, dinner. Often in business meetings someone will be assigned to facilitate a discussion so people don't just sit in awkward silence. Synonyms are ease, simplify, expedite, and assist.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

facilitate facilitates facilitated facilitating

"Ultimately, the purpose of an adjustment is to facilitate good performance, not to lower the standard of performance," says Prof Nancy Doyle, an occupational psychologist.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

"Parties to the conflict should urgently work to facilitate safe passage for stranded seafarers to safely evacuate and disembark, as well as ensure the delivery of critical supplies," Mantoo added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

They use AI-powered analytics to design portfolios, facilitate regulatory compliance and streamline client communication.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

The decision from McCormick to push for a London listing aims to facilitate capital flows and bolster liquidity for shareholders, McCormick said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

I would be happy to do anything possible to facilitate such a path.

From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer

"However, our data show that water mainly facilitates mantle melting. The key factor for high gold concentrations is the high - and in part repeated - degree of melting."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

Getting rid of the physical disc also facilitates distribution by reducing supply-chain hiccups and the possibility of a premature leak.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

It’s part of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, an international organization that facilitates college courses taught inside prisons, with half the seats filled by incarcerated students and half by students from outside.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

The company’s platform facilitates the digital ads that surround mobile apps, especially games.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

For the plant the change is highly disadvantageous, but it facilitates harvest by humans—the grain waits on the stem to be collected.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

The call was facilitated by Trent Morse, a lobbyist who previously worked as a senior White House personnel official and is now working for Taylor Farms, according to a person familiar with the outreach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Earlier on Monday, Bangkok governor Chatchart Sittipunt said the flammable interior decorations on the bar's ceiling may have facilitated the blaze's rapid spread.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Central banks in Japan and China have in the recent past facilitated purchases of domestic stocks via ETFs, Balchunas pointed out.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026

None of the major banks that facilitated the IPO are covering the stock yet.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

After introducing himself, he facilitated a conversation that would last about an hour, asking people to share their stories and describe their concerns about life in the neighborhood.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Trying facilitating a frank conversation about what needs to be in order.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Under Tanzanian law, offences such as recruiting for, facilitating, harbouring or supporting terrorists or terrorist groups carry severe penalties.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Qatar, which has played a vital role in facilitating negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, condemned the attack on its tanker as “unacceptable.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

The CoinEx spokesperson denied facilitating direct transactions on behalf of Iranian or sanctioned entities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Writing empowered European societies by facilitating political administration and economic exchanges, motivating and guiding exploration and conquest, and making available a range of information and human experience extending into remote places and times.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

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