Accommodating describes a tendency to be helpful or obliging, often adjusting one’s actions to fit someone else’s needs. In usage, it can also refer to making suitable arrangements or concessions. As an adjective or present participle form, it conveys a sense of flexibility and agreeableness in social or logistical contexts.
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"The hotel staff were accommodating, arranging an early check-in."
"Her accommodating attitude made teamwork smoother and more enjoyable."
"They offered an accommodating solution, changing the schedule to fit everyone."
"The company is known for its accommodating policies toward new employees."
Accommodating traces to the verb accommodate, from the Old French accommoder (to fit, suit, adjust) combining Latin ad- (toward) + compōrāre (to fit or place together). The root is late Latin accomodare, from the Latin com- (together, with) and 'modus' (measure, way). The English form appeared by the 15th century as accommodate, with -ing forms following in later centuries. The sense broadened from physical fitting or provisioning (to provide shelter or space) to social flexibility and willingness to oblige. The noun accommodation emerges from the same semantic field, meaning a place to stay, then extended to actions that accommodate others. Over time, English speakers adopted accommodating as the present participle/gerund and as an adjective describing persons or behaviors characterized by readiness to help or adapt. In contemporary usage, accommodating often emphasizes service orientation and social ease rather than mere compliance. The word travels easily across domains—from hospitality to workplace teamwork—reflecting ongoing cultural value placed on adaptability and cooperation. First known uses appear in Middle English through early modern English texts, with recorded forms aligning closely to the present sense of flexibility and assistance in interpersonal contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "accommodating" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "accommodating"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /əˈkɒm.əˌdeɪ.tɪŋ/ in US/UK/AU. Primary stress on the -moc-? Actually three-syllable stress pattern: ac- COM- mod- a- ting? The standard is a- CCOM-mo- date-ing with secondary stress on the /ˌdeɪ/? To simplify: uh-KOM-uh-day-ting, with emphasis on the second syllable. Begin with a schwa, then /ˈkɒm/ for the second syllable, then /əˌdeɪ/, ending with /tɪŋ/. Ensure the /m/ is light and the /d/ is clearly released before the long -ay. IPA: /əˈkɒm.əˌdeɪ.tɪŋ/. Audio reference: consult Cambridge Online Dictionary or Forvo for speaker variants.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying ac-COM-mo-dating or a-ccom-MO-dating. 2) Slurring the /mˈm/ sequence, making it sound like a single heavy consonant. 3) Mispronouncing the /ˈdeɪ/ as /də/ or /di/ or merging syllables. Correction: keep stress on the second syllable /ˈkɒm/ and keep the /ˌdeɪ/ as a distinct, stressed secondary segment, with a clear /tɪŋ/ at the end. Practice the middle -mo- and -deɪ- as separate beats, not a single elongated sound.
US tends to reduce vowels less aggressively than some UK varieties; rhotic /ɹ/ is clear in US, while some UK speakers may have a shorter /ɒ/ in 'com-' and lighter /t/ realization. Australian accents often show a broader /æ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region, with a cooler /ˈdeɪ/ vowel. The rhythm remains trochaic-to-dactyl-ish with secondary stress on /ˌdeɪ/. IPA remains /əˈkɒm.əˌdeɪ.tɪŋ/ across regions, but vowel qualities shift: US /ɒ/ vs UK /ɒ/ and AU /ɒ/ or /ɒː/ in broader accents. Monitor flapping in US when fast.
Two main challenges: 1) The multi-syllable structure with three prominent consonant clusters - /kɒm/ and /tɪŋ/ separated by a mid vowel sequence; 2) The /ˌdeɪ/ syllable which can get reduced or tied to neighboring sounds in fluent speech. The result often sounds like ac-COM-uh-day-ting or a-KOM-uh-dait-ing. Focus on per-syllable precision: /ə/ initial, /ˈkɒm/ second, /ə/ third, /ˌdeɪ/ fourth, /tɪŋ/ final.
One unique aspect is the subtle distinction between the root 'accommodate' and the -ing participle form in spoken rhythm; you hear a triplet-like cadence: acCOM-mo-dating with second syllable carrying primary stress and the -ing ending staying light but audible. Maintain a clear /m/ onset in the second syllable and avoid eliding the /d/ in -dating. Mastery comes from practicing the full word in connected speech and noticing how the /ɒ/ in 'com-' interacts with the following /m/.
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