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.
“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
That protection is the main reason why social media companies can facilitate wide-open discussion online.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
However, he welcomed Israeli government efforts to address the situation and facilitate other Holy Week activities.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
Anthropic’s usage guidelines prohibit Claude from being used to facilitate violence, develop weapons, or conduct surveillance.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
Andrew Mlangeni, the last accused, made an unsworn state-ment admitting that he carried messages and instructions for MK and had disguised himself as a priest to facilitate this work.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
