account for (something)

phrasal verb

accounted for (something); accounting for (something); accounts for (something)

1

: to give a reason or explanation for (something)

How do you account for your success?

2

: to be the cause of (something)

These new features account for the computer's higher price.

3

: to make up or form (a part of something)

Women account for only 25 percent of our employees.

4

US : to think about (something) before doing something : to take (something) into consideration

The researchers failed to account for the fact that most of the students were poor.

Examples of account for (something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last Friday, the F.D.A. announced new rules that require companies making pet food containing certain uncooked or unpasteurized ingredients to update their food safety plans to account for the potential hazards of bird flu. —Emily Anthes, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Sponsorships declined by about $2,000 and account for about one-fourth of the celebration’s costs. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025

But an inability or failure to properly account for human-centric priorities can have detrimental impacts, such as employees becoming disengaged or losing trust in their employers. —Jennifer Rozon, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Analysts say the North American market is now likely to be a key target for brands in 2025, with BofA forecasting U.S. shoppers to account for more than 50% of sector-wide revenue growth this year. —Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025