facilitate

verb

fə-ˈsi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce facilitate (audio)
Definition of facilitatenext
as in to ease
to free from obstruction or difficulty several religious organizations are involved in the effort to facilitate the settlement of the immigrants arriving in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of facilitate Operatives working for the FBI then facilitated her plans, including providing her with money to buy ingredients for a nail bomb. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 The option agreement was facilitated by Palomera Group and Levy Law PLLC, the team repping Vanessa Guillen’s sister, Mayra Guillén. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026 Further afield lie a helipad and two private docks to facilitate comings and goings. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026 The Pentagon needs to use its muscle to facilitate that teamwork. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for facilitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facilitate
  1. promote
  2. improve
  3. ease
  4. simplify
  5. assist
Verb
  • Earlier this year, the diner rolled out the Fiesta Chicken Protein Bowl, promoting the dish's 52 grams of protein.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The key takeaway is that dietary protein and resistance training work together to promote muscle growth and maintain strength.
    — Linda M. Boland, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of promote
Verb
  • The upgrade focuses on the aircraft’s mission systems, combining new hardware and software to improve situational awareness and reduce the workload on its crew.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But with races like the one in Alaska, the party sees an opportunity to improve its chances.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of improve
Verb
  • The deployment of more than 1,500 soldiers to protect Michoacán’s avocado-growing region and recent arrests of people allegedly involved in extortion have eased concerns, but only partially.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The bad blood between West Ham and Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano saga has eased over the years, but the rivalry will reconvene in Yorkshire on December 4.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of ease
Verb
  • Keep the meaning intact, simplify the wording, and let clarity carry your idea forward.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The company is simplifying its joint-venture portfolio and shedding underperforming properties.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of simplify
Verb
  • University police, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted several other federal and state agencies with the investigation, which is ongoing.
    — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • From last fall through late April, the program had handled 138 calls, most of which sorted into the check well-being category (62) or the citizen assist one (56).
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of assist

Browse Nearby Words

facilely
facilitate
facilitated
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Facilitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facilitate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on facilitate

Nglish: Translation of facilitate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All