Accommodating

Accommodating is the present participle of the verb accommodate. As an adjective, it describes a person or thing that is willing to fit in with others’ needs or wishes, or that provides help or concessions. It can also refer to facilities or services designed to be convenient or to meet specific requirements, such as an accommodating schedule or accommodations arranged for guests. In reference to a person, an accommodating individual is cooperative and easy to work with.

Etymology and use: The verb derives from the Latin accommodare, “to fit or adjust,” from ad- “toward” plus commodus “convenient.” The sense of providing lodging, space, or services developed as the word broadened in English. The related noun accommodation is common in hotel or lodging contexts, while accommodative is a more formal or technical variant.

Usage considerations: Accommodating is commonly used to describe helpful or obliging behavior, as in “The staff were very accommodating.” It can be neutral or positive, but in some contexts may suggest excessive willingness to comply with others’ demands. In some professional registers, accommodative or accommodating features may describe design choices intended to adapt to user needs, though accommodative is less frequent in everyday speech.

Related terms: Synonyms include obliging, helpful, cooperative, flexible, and conciliatory. Antonyms include inflexible, uncooperative, and unaccommodating. See also accommodation, accommodate, and accommodative for related meanings across contexts.