facilitate

verb

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fa·cil·i·tate | \ fə-ˈsi-lə-ˌtāt

facilitated; facilitating

Definition of facilitate

transitive verb

: to make easier : help bring about facilitate growth

Other Words from facilitate Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about facilitate

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Did You Know?

As with so many English words, it's easy to find a Latin origin for facilitate. It traces back to the Latin adjective facilis, meaning "easy." Other descendants of facilis in English include facile ("easy to do"), facility ("the quality of being easily performed"), faculty ("ability"), and difficult (from dis- plus facilis, which equals "not easy"). Facilis in turn comes from facere, a Latin verb meaning "to make or do." Facere has played a role in the development of dozens of English words, ranging from affect to surfeit.

Examples of facilitate in a Sentence

The strength of the inner identities that black women forged and nurtured during slavery facilitated the transition to freedom. — Darlene Clark Hine, Lure and Loathing, 1993 What physical events might have facilitated the evolution of macroscopic animals? — Andrew H. Knoll, Scientific American, October 1991 Nothing so facilitates writing as actually having something to say, yet the conditions under which, and the tools with which, writing is done can contribute to facility—or to difficulty. — Joseph Epstein, The Middle of My Tether, 1983 Cutting taxes may facilitate economic recovery. Her rise to power was facilitated by her influential friends. The moderator's role is to facilitate the discussion by asking appropriate questions.

Recent Examples on the Web Husock describes Abbott and Cohen as reformers whose efforts facilitated the demise of civil society’s promotion of bourgeois norms. — Andre M. Archie, National Review, "The Power of Bourgeois Norms," 7 Nov. 2019 Petersen has been facilitating adoptions involving Marshallese women since 1998, after serving as a missionary in the islands for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. — Robert Anglen, azcentral, "Babies and mothers were treated like transactions in Paul Petersen's adoption scheme," 7 Nov. 2019 Iran has given Europe a series of 60-day deadlines to reset the terms of the deal, including facilitating the sale of Iranian oil, which is blocked under the U.S. embargo. — Erin Cunningham, Anchorage Daily News, "Iran takes major step away from nuclear deal by activating sensitive uranium-enrichment facility," 5 Nov. 2019 Serving as a judge on American Idol certainly helped you facilitate a comeback in 2002 when the show first premiered on Fox. — Evan Real, The Hollywood Reporter, "Paula Abdul Talks "Very Personal" Las Vegas Residency and Paving the Way for Today's Pop Stars," 31 Oct. 2019 The move facilitates developing comprehensive solutions to clients’ problems and managing challenges facing Houston, such as sustainability and flooding, Irvine said. — Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "Stantec to consolidate Houston offices to landmark One Shell Plaza building," 25 Oct. 2019 She and Klisavage noted the improvements to the dispatch center have helped streamline communications processes, all of which are facilitated through that room. — David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Aberdeen Police have new technological tools with body cameras, refurbished dispatch center," 24 Oct. 2019 On request, room service delivers complimentary treats to the room; and the concierge gladly facilitates walking services to neighboring Central Park or can provide a sitter. — Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, "16 Pet-Friendly Hotels That Both Dogs and Humans Will Love," 1 Oct. 2019 Sunstone - Sunstone is a catalyst for the masculine to evolve toward graceful integration with the feminine divine, facilitating allowance to be present without ego, to embrace the nurturing aspects of the divine mother. — Rania Aniftos, Billboard, "Jhene Aiko Soothes the Anxious Mind With Meditative 'Trigger Protection Mantra': Listen," 13 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'facilitate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near facilitate

facile

facile princeps

facilis descensus Averno

Statistics for facilitate

Last Updated

12 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for facilitate

The first known use of facilitate was in 1599

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More Definitions for facilitate

facilitate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of facilitate

formal

: to make (something) easier : to help cause (something)

: to help (something) run more smoothly and effectively

See the full definition for facilitate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

facilitate

verb

fa·cil·i·tate | \ fə-ˈsi-lə-ˌtāt

facilitated; facilitating

Kids Definition of facilitate

: to make easier

facilitate

transitive verb

fa·cil·i·tate | \ fə-ˈsil-ə-ˌtāt

facilitated; facilitating

Medical Definition of facilitate

: to increase the likelihood, strength, or effectiveness of (as behavior or a response) reflexes can be facilitated or inhibited also : to lower the threshold for transmission of (an impulse)

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facilitate

transitive verb

fa·cil·i·tate | \ fə-ˈsi-lə-ˌtāt

facilitated; facilitating