Word Confusion: Acclimate versus Accommodate

Third person present verb: acclimates
Past tense or past participle: acclimated
Present participle: acclimating

Third person present verb: accommodates
Past tense or past participle: accommodated
Present participle: accommodating

• [Technical] Respond physiologically or behaviorally to a change in an environmental factor under controlled conditions

Verb, transitive:
[Mainly North American] Become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions

• [Botany & Horticulture] Harden off a plant

To become adjusted or adapted

To become reconciled

• Agree

Verb, transitive:
[Of physical space, especially a building] Provide lodging or sufficient space for

Fit in with the wishes or needs of

To do a kindness or a favor to

• Oblige

To provide suitably

• [Usually followed by with] Supply

To lend money to

To provide with a room and sometimes with food

To have or make room for

To make suitable or consistent

• Adapt

To bring into harmony or make adjustments or allowances for

This should help new students acclimate to college life.

He tells of getting acclimated to Saudi Arabia and the life of an advisor.

He has not yet acclimated to when our days and nights are.

“Of concern here were the behavioral and physiological adjustments necessary to accommodate growth and reproductive development when faced with the need to forage for different lengths of time at different temperatures” (Perrigo).

Verb, transitive:
If you’ve gardened for more than a season or two you have almost certainly run into this concept, and learned that it is a straightforward process that gradually acclimates the seedling to life in the great outdoors.

“He was out here to acclimate himself to the cold, and the mealy scent of the everlasting ice was strong.” – S.M. Stirling, Rising Storm

The farmhouse has been redone to accommodate both good English antiques and luxe 20th-century comforts without sacrificing any of its rough-hewn charm (Prose).

Investors quickly accommodated themselves to the new market conditions.

They accommodated themselves to the warmer climate.

Verb, transitive:
The cabins accommodate up to six people.

Any language must accommodate new concepts.

We can always accommodate a friend by helping him move to a new apartment.

The officials were accommodated with seats toward the front of the room.

Can you accommodate him, or are you short of cash?

We can furnish you with accommodations while you look for an apartment.

Will this elevator accommodate 10 people?

It’s best to accommodate oneself to circumstances.

Can we accommodate their differences?

We can definitely accommodate your busy schedule.