facilitate

/fə'siliteit/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
facilitate

The teacher uses a diagram to facilitate understanding of the water cycle.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To make an action or process easier or less difficult: To help something run more smoothly or occur more readily.
    • To assist the progress of something: To be of use in advancing a development or outcome.
    • To increase the likelihood or efficiency of a particular response or result: In specific contexts, such as physiology or psychology, to make a neural or behavioral response more probable or faster.
Examples of Usage
  • Verb:
    • The new software will facilitate data analysis. (The new software will make the process of data analysis easier.)
    • A good moderator facilitates productive discussion. (A good moderator helps a discussion progress effectively.)
    • The agreement facilitated trade between the two countries. (The agreement made trade between the two countries easier and more likely to happen.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to facilitate learning": to create conditions that make learning easier or more effective.
    • Interactive tools facilitate learning by engaging students.
  • "to facilitate change": to help a process of change happen more smoothly.
    • The manager's role is to facilitate change, not to impose it.
  • In a technical/scientific context: Refers to making a physiological or psychological process more efficient.
    • The drug facilitates the transmission of nerve signals.
Variants and Related Words
  • Facilitation (n): The act of making something easier or the process of being assisted.
    • The project benefited from her expert facilitation.
  • Facilitator (n): A person or thing that makes an action or process easier.
    • The teacher acted as a facilitator, guiding the students' research.
Synonyms
  • Ease: To make less difficult.
  • Assist: To help or support.
  • Expedite: To speed up the progress of.
  • Promote: To help the development or growth of something.
Antonyms
  • Hinder: To create difficulties, resulting in delay or obstruction.
  • Complicate: To make more complex or difficult.
  • Impede: To delay or block the progress of.
Related Phrases
  • "Facilitate the process": A common collocation meaning to make a procedure easier.
    • Our goal is to facilitate the process of applying for a visa.
  • "Facilitate communication": To make the exchange of information easier.
    • The translator was there to facilitate communication between the delegates.
facilitate

The teacher uses a diagram to facilitate understanding of the water cycle.

Verb
  1. increase the likelihood of (a response)
    • The stimulus facilitates a delayed impulse
  2. be of use
    • This will help to prevent accidents
  3. make easier
    • you could facilitate the process by sharing your knowledge