facilitate

/fəˌsɪləˈteɪt/

/fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/

Other forms: facilitated; facilitating; facilitates

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.

Definitions of facilitate

1. verb

   make easier
   “you could facilitate the process by sharing your knowledge”

   synonyms: alleviate, ease

   type of:

   aid, assist, help

   give help or assistance; be of service
2. verb

   increase the likelihood of (a response)
   “The stimulus facilitates a delayed impulse”

   type of:

   cause, do, make

   give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
3. verb

   be of use
   synonyms: help

   type of:

   serve

   contribute or conduce to