accommodate

Sayuh-KOM-uh-dayt/əˈkɑməˌdeɪt/UK/əˈkɒməˌdeɪt/AUS/əˈkɔməˌdæɪt/

Formsaccommodates, accommodating, accommodated

12 meanings of accommodate

1
verbtransitive
To give someone a place to live or stay.
Like a hotel giving travelers a room for the night.
The shelter can accommodate up to fifty people each night.
They accommodated the refugees in temporary cabins.
Similarhouse, lodge, board, shelter
2
verbtransitive
To have enough space to hold people or things.
Like a box big enough to hold all your toys.
This hall can accommodate two thousand guests.
The parking lot accommodates over four hundred cars.
Similarhold, seat, house, fit, take
3
verbtransitive
To hold something with enough room to be comfortable.
Like a closet roomy enough to hold all your clothes neatly.
The booth can comfortably accommodate six diners.
These shelves accommodate all of her books with room to spare.
Similarseat, fit, hold, take
4
verbtransitive
To give people what they need or want.
Like a friend who always helps you get what you need.
The hotel went out of its way to accommodate its guests.
The bank accommodated her with a short-term loan.
Similarsupply, provide, furnish, equip
Note
5
verbtransitive
To help someone by doing what they ask.
Like saying yes when a friend asks for a small favor.
She was glad to accommodate her neighbor by watching the kids.
The manager accommodated us by staying open late.
Similaroblige
Oppositerefuse, decline, rebuff
6
verbtransitive
To take something into account and make room for it.
Like leaving extra time in case the bus is late.
The new schedule tries to accommodate everyone's working hours.
The plan accommodates possible delays in shipping.
Similarpermit, allow, address, meet, consider
Oppositeignore, disregard, preclude
7
verbreflexivetransitive
To change something so it fits or works well with another thing.
Like changing a recipe to fit what you have in the kitchen.
They had to accommodate the software to the older computers.
She accommodated her teaching style to the students' needs.
Similaradapt, adjust, suit, arrange, conform
Note
8
verbtransitive
To help two sides settle their differences and agree.
Like a referee helping two players agree on the rules.
The mediator worked to accommodate the two feuding families.
The treaty accommodated the rival claims of both nations.
Similarreconcile
9
verbtransitive
To apply a saying or teaching to a situation it seems to match.
Like using an old story to explain something happening today.
Preachers often accommodate old scriptures to modern problems.
He accommodated the ancient proverb to his own situation.
Similaradapt, apply, fit, adjust, reconcile
10
verbintransitive
To change the shape of the eye's lens so you can focus on near or far things.
Like a camera changing its focus from a near object to a far one.
When you look at something close, your eyes accommodate to keep it sharp.
The eye accommodates more slowly as a person ages.
Similarfocus
Note

Less common meanings

11
verbrareintransitive
To change yourself so you fit in with new conditions.
Like slowly getting used to a new school.
New employees usually accommodate quickly to the company's routine.
Over time, the settlers accommodated to the harsh climate.
Similaradapt, adjust, acclimatize, conform, assimilate
Note
12
adjectiveobsolete
Well suited or fitted to a purpose.
Like shoes that are just right for a long walk.
The old craftsman kept only tools accommodate to his trade.
Her plain words were accommodate to the solemn occasion.
Note

Practice

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Origin

This word came into English in the 1530s from Latin. It comes from a Latin verb built from a part meaning "to" and a part linked to "measure" or "fit."