Facilitate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /fə-ˈsi-lə-ˌtāt/ fa·cil·i·tate

Meaning & Definition of Facilitate

Facilitate (verb)

  1. to make (something) easier
  2. to help bring (something) about
  3. to help (something) run more smoothly and effectively

Facilitate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: ease, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog, pave the way (for)
    related: accelerate, expedite, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed, advance, forward, further, promote, abet, aid, assist, help, improve, disentangle, straighten (out), untangle, simplify, streamline
    opposite: complicate
    near: hinder, impede, retard, aggravate, worsen, perplex, sophisticate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Facilitate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Facilitate:

ease, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog, pave the way (for)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Facilitate

Words with the opposite meaning of Facilitate:

complicate

Related Words for Facilitate

accelerate, expedite, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed, advance, forward, further, promote, abet, aid, assist, help, improve, disentangle, straighten (out), untangle, simplify, streamline

Near Antonyms of Facilitate

hinder, impede, retard, aggravate, worsen, perplex, sophisticate

Word Forms of Facilitate

Inflections: facilitated, facilitating, facilitates

Derived words: facilitative (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Facilitate

probably from Middle French faciliter "to make easy" (borrowed from Italian facilitare, verbal derivative of facilità facility) + -ate:4

First known use: 1599

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Facilitate

Frequently Asked Questions about Facilitate

What does "Facilitate" mean?

"Facilitate" means to make (something) easier. As a verb, it is defined as: to make (something) easier.

What is another word for "Facilitate"?

Other words for "Facilitate" include ease, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog and pave the way (for). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Facilitate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Facilitate"?

There are 27 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Facilitate". Common alternatives include ease, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog and pave the way (for).

What is the opposite of "Facilitate"?

Antonyms of "Facilitate" include complicate. Near antonyms include hinder, impede, retard and aggravate.

How do you use "Facilitate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Facilitate" in a sentence: "several religious organizations are involved in the effort to facilitate the settlement of the immigrants arriving in the area".

Is "Facilitate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Facilitate" is a verb.

Is "Facilitate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Facilitate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Facilitate"?

"Facilitate" is pronounced /fə-ˈsi-lə-ˌtāt/ and divided into syllables as fa·cil·i·tate.