accommodating
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of accommodating
First recorded in 1610–20; accommodat(e) + -ing 2
Explanation
If you are part of a group that has accommodating members, you’re very fortunate. Accommodating describes those who are easy to get along with and willing to help you. Accommodating is the adjective form of the verb accommodate, and it’s used to describe those who are cheerfully willing to make small adjustments to help you out. The waiter who is happy to serve the dressing on the side, give you extra cheese on the burger, and swap French fries for mashed potatoes, all because that's how you want it? Definitely accommodating.
Vocabulary lists containing accommodating
Stamped
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 22–February 28, 2026
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Why are we, once again, waiting around for a disabled person to be present to even think about changing things or accommodating things,” Bode said in her initial video.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
Jason Ardizzone West’s abstract set is a construction of curving ramps, accommodating much of the big chorus and festooned with night lights; a large disc hangs above a center platform, occasionally tilting and dipping.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Chinese stocks are going to rally 10% between now and year-end as accommodating government policy, low valuations and a recovering property sector combine to propel them higher.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Tedros also said that the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Health, which "hosts five shelters accommodating more than 5,000 people", is in the evacuation area.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
I explained how as a lawyer I was often forced to choose between compliance with the law and accommodating my conscience.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
