# accommodate

/əˈkɑməˌdeɪt/ (US) · /ɐkˈɒmədˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accommodate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to provide lodging

verb · CEFR B2

to provide someone with a place to stay or sleep.

For teachers: to provide lodging or sufficient space for living or staying. Transitive; typically takes a person or group as the direct object.

- The hotel was able to accommodate the entire wedding party for the weekend.
- The university has struggled to accommodate the sudden influx of international students within its existing dormitory infrastructure.

### 2. to have enough space

verb · CEFR B2

to have enough room for a specific number of people or things.

For teachers: to contain comfortably or have the capacity for a specific number or volume.

- The new cinema screen can accommodate over five hundred people.
- The refurbished conference hall is designed to accommodate large-scale exhibitions while maintaining strict fire safety regulations regarding capacity.

### 3. to adjust for someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to change your plans or a system to help someone or deal with a new situation.

For teachers: to modify a process, schedule, or environment to meet the needs or preferences of others.

- The teacher changed the exam date to accommodate students who were traveling.
- The software architecture was updated to accommodate the diverse requirements of the various regional branches.

### 4. to consider or allow for

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to take something into account when making a decision.

For teachers: to give consideration to or allow for a specific factor or variable in a plan or theory.

- The new law must accommodate the needs of small business owners.
- Any viable economic model must accommodate the reality of fluctuating energy prices and shifting global trade alliances.

### 5. eye focus

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

the way your eye changes to focus on things at different distances.

For teachers: the process by which the vertebrate eye changes optical power to maintain a clear image or focus on an object as its distance varies.

- As we get older, it becomes harder for our eyes to accommodate quickly.
- The patient's inability to accommodate effectively suggested a potential issue with the ciliary muscles rather than a simple refractive error.

Usage: The verb is often used intransitively in this biological context.

## Examples

- The new hotel can accommodate five hundred guests.
- The manager agreed to shift the meeting time to accommodate the overseas team's schedule.
- While the primary goal was to accommodate the influx of refugees, the local government also had to ensure that existing infrastructure could support the sudden population increase without failing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.