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View synonyms for accommodate

accommodate

[ uh-kom-uh-deyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ac·com·mo·dat·ed, ac·com·mo·dat·ing.
  1. to do a kindness or a favor to; oblige:

    to accommodate a friend by helping him move to a new apartment.

    Synonyms: abet, help, assist, aid, serve

    Antonyms: inconvenience

  2. to provide suitably; supply (usually followed by with ):

    The officials were accommodated with seats toward the front of the room.

  3. to lend money to:

    Can you accommodate him, or are you short of cash?

  4. to provide with a room and sometimes with food.
  5. to furnish with accommodations, as food and lodgings.
  6. to have or make room for:

    Will this elevator accommodate 10 people?

  7. to make suitable or consistent; adapt:

    to accommodate oneself to circumstances.

    Synonyms: suit, fit

  8. to bring into harmony or make adjustments or allowances for:

    to accommodate differences;

    to accommodate your busy schedule.

    Synonyms: harmonize, compose



verb (used without object)

, ac·com·mo·dat·ed, ac·com·mo·dat·ing.
  1. to become adjusted or adapted.
  2. to become reconciled; agree.

accommodate

/ əˈkɒməˌdeɪt /

verb

  1. tr to supply or provide, esp with lodging or board and lodging
  2. tr to oblige or do a favour for
  3. to adjust or become adjusted; adapt
  4. tr to bring into harmony; reconcile
  5. tr to allow room for; contain
  6. tr to lend money to, esp on a temporary basis until a formal loan has been arranged
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • acˈcommoˌdative, adjective
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Other Words From

  • ac·com·mo·da·ble [uh, -, kom, -, uh, -d, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
  • non·ac·com·mo·da·ble adjective
  • pre·ac·com·mo·date verb (used with object) preaccommodated preaccommodating
  • re·ac·com·mo·date verb reaccommodated reaccommodating
  • un·ac·com·mo·da·ble adjective
  • un·der·ac·com·mo·dat·ed adjective
  • well-ac·com·mo·dat·ed adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of accommodate1

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin accommodātus “adjusted,” past participle of accommodāre “to adjust,” from ac- ac- + commod(us) “convenient, fitting, suitable” ( com-, mode )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of accommodate1

C16: from Latin accommodāre to make fit, from ad- to + commodus having the proper measure
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Synonym Study

See oblige. See contain.
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Example Sentences

Several parents told BBC News they had been forced to take their children out of mainstream schools because they could not accommodate their EHCPs.

From BBC

Southwest has said it will accommodate all passengers on other flights.

From BBC

"This invites us to take a more holistic view, accommodating both human and natural components of complex systems that extend across environmental, social and economic domains."

As nervous US military hawks have pointed out, if Chancay can accommodate ultra-large container vessels, it can also handle Chinese warships.

From BBC

The center is doing its best to accommodate more and more patients from in and outside the state, but there’s still a waitlist, stretching for months for some patients awaiting treatment.

From Salon

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More About Accommodate

What does accommodate mean?

To accommodate someone is to do them a favor or meet their needs or wants in some way, as in You don’t have to accommodate everyone all the time—sometimes the answer should be no. 

To accommodate a request is to honor it—to do what has been asked, as in They were kind enough to accommodate my special requests.

The adjective accommodating means eager or willing to help or please in this way.

Accommodate can also mean to make or have room for, as in This bus can accommodate up to 50 passengers. 

Similarly, accommodate can mean to provide someone with a place to stay, as in Unfortunately the hotel was not able to accommodate us—all the rooms were reserved. 

The related term accommodation is often used in this context, especially in relation to hotels rooms or other temporary lodging. In this case, it is often used in the plural, as in What are the accommodations like?

Accommodation is also commonly used in a general way referring to the act of accommodating. This can be used in any of the senses of the word.

Example: We’ve extended our hours to better accommodate our customers.​

Where does accommodate come from?

The first records of the word accommodate come from the early 1500s. It is from the Latin verb accommodāre, meaning “to make fit.” Its root word, the Latin commod(us), means “fitting” or “suitable.”

In most senses of the word, to accommodate someone is to fit them in, or suit their needs. Sometimes, accommodating someone means ignoring your own needs or making some kind of sacrifice to do what they want or need. When it’s used in this way, accommodate sometimes implies that you’re going through too much trouble to please a person—that you’re bending over backwards for them. Someone who does this can be described as too accommodating.

When accommodate is used in the context of fitting people into a space, it usually involves whether a place has enough rooms (hotel rooms) for people or enough room (space) for them, as in The conference room can accommodate up to 100 guests.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to accommodate?

What are some synonyms for accommodate?

What are some words that share a root or word element with accommodate

What are some words that often get used in discussing accommodate?

How is accommodate used in real life?

Accommodate is commonly used in both general ways and in the context of hotels and lodging.

 

Try using accommodate!

Is accommodate used correctly in the following sentence?

We’re happy to say that we’ll be able to accommodate your request to accommodate three extra guests.

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