accommodating

[ uh-kom-uh-dey-ting ]

adjective

1. easy to deal with; eager to help or please; obliging.

accommodating

/ əˈkɒməˌdeɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. willing to help; kind; obliging

Derived Forms

• acˈcommoˌdatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• ac·commo·dating·ly adverb
• nonac·commo·dating adjective
• nonac·commo·dating·ly adverb
• nonac·commo·dating·ness noun
• preac·commo·dating·ly adverb
• super·ac·commo·dating adjective
• unac·commo·dating adjective
• unac·commo·dating·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of accommodating¹

First recorded in 1610–20; accommodat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

"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."

From Science Daily

The play’s spry theatricality has no trouble accommodating Leon’s 21st century vision of Grover’s Corners.

From Los Angeles Times

However, in recent years, Starbucks has turned its attention to crafting mobile orders and accommodating delivery — a strategy that was only further cemented during the pandemic.

From Salon

For all the difficulties schools and colleges face in accommodating access arrangements, Hannah says the additional support can "completely change people's lives".

From BBC

At the same time, it’s an accommodating form, a democratic form, that adapts to all sorts of settings and players, regardless of race, creed, color, class, age, sex, gender, period, or what have you.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• considerate
• friendly
• generous
• helpful
• hospitable
• polite
• unselfish

More About Accommodating

What does accommodating mean?

The adjective accommodating means eager or willing to help or please.

It comes from the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb accommodate, which means to do someone 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.

Example: We can’t thank you enough—you’ve been so accommodating and have made us feel so welcome.

Where does accommodating come from?

The first records of the word accommodating as an adjective come from the early 1600s. Its base word, accommodate, comes from the Latin verb accommodāre, meaning “to make fit.” Its root word, the Latin commod(us), means “fitting” or “suitable.”

Sometimes, being accommodating means ignoring your own needs or making some kind of sacrifice to do what someone wants or needs. Sometimes, accommodating can be used to imply 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. The opposite is unaccommodating—not helpful at all.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to accommodating?

• accommodatingly (adverb)
• unaccommodating (adjective)
• accommodate (verb)

What are some synonyms for accommodating?

• obliging
• helpful

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

• accommodation
• accommodative

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

• help
• request
• ask
• more
• need
• want

How is accommodating used in real life?

Accommodating is often used in the context of people being helpful, especially when they go out of their way to do so.

Shoutout to Dr. James Overboe, he's been so accommodating to his students giving extensions and saying that students can submit their assignments whenever. He really cares about his students

— Spotted At Laurier (@SpottedLaurier) November 2, 2020

Today, as part of our Invisibility Disability Awareness campaign, we're discussing auditory disabilities and how society can be more accommodating for people with auditory issues ❤️ pic.twitter.com/noEgvTM01G

— UCC DAA Soc (@UCCDAASoc) October 29, 2020

I’m way too accommodating. It’s almost self-destructive at this point.

— LoVita Alizé Jenkins (@Chinkrueche) October 31, 2020

 

 

Try using accommodating!

Is accommodating used correctly in the following sentence?

I know you love to help, but in this case I think you’re being a little too accommodating.