Cool MateAccommodate vs Adjust
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accommodate
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Adjust
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Adjust
| Accommodate | Adjust | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈkɒmədeɪt/","/əˈkɒmədeɪts/","/əˈkɒmədeɪtɪd/","/əˈkɒmədeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈkɑːmədeɪt/","/əˈkɑːmədeɪts/","/əˈkɑːmədeɪtɪd/","/əˈkɑːmədeɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈdʒʌst/","/əˈdʒʌsts/","/əˈdʒʌstɪd/","/əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈdʒʌst/","/əˈdʒʌsts/","/əˈdʒʌstɪd/","/əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make space or provide for someone or something. | To change something slightly to make it better or more suitable. |
| Example | The hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests. | You need to adjust the brightness of your screen for better visibility. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | comfortably, easily, readily, be able to, can, comfortably, easily, readily, be able to, can | slightly, finely, automatically, for, quickly, rapidly, gradually, be difficult to, be hard to, need time to, to |
| Antonyms | disaccommodate, refuse | ignore, neglect, remain unchanged |
| Common mistakes | 'Accommodate' is often confused with 'accommodating' as an adjective., Learners sometimes forget the double 'c' in 'accommodate'., Some may incorrectly use 'accommodate to' instead of just 'accommodate'. | Confused with 'adapt', which means changing to fit new conditions., Using 'adjust' as a noun, e.g., 'the adjust needs to be made' instead of 'the adjustment needs to be made'., Incorrectly assuming 'adjust' needs a preposition, e.g., 'adjust to something' instead of just 'adjust something'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'accommodate' when talking about making adjustments or providing for someone's needs. It can be used in both personal and professional contexts. Avoid using in overly casual settings. | Use 'adjust' when talking about small changes. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual speech like slang conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Accommodate vs Adjust
What's the difference between Accommodate and Adjust?
Accommodate: To make space or provide for someone or something. Adjust: To change something slightly to make it better or more suitable.
Which is more common: Accommodate and Adjust?
Adjust is the most common in everyday English.
Are Accommodate and Adjust the same CEFR level?
Accommodate: B2, Adjust: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Accommodate and Adjust?
Accommodate: verb, Adjust: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Accommodate: The hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests. Adjust: You need to adjust the brightness of your screen for better visibility.
Can I use Accommodate and Adjust interchangeably?
Not always. Accommodate and Adjust are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.