account for (someone or something)

phrasal verb

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

1

: to show what happened to (someone or something) : know where (something or someone) is

We have to account for the time we spend on each activity.

The government couldn't account for millions of dollars of the taxpayers' money.

Is everyone accounted for?

2

: to destroy or kill (someone or something)

Enemy fighters have accounted for most of our bombers, Sir.

3

chiefly British : to defeat or beat (someone or something)

We accounted for the challengers 3–2.

Examples of account for (someone or something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not-for-profit, or tax-exempt hospitals, account for most hospitals and health systems in the U.S. —Bruce Japsen, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

The rivals' combined nearly $180 billion food sales (excluding gas and pharmacy) also account for nearly one of every six of the nearly $1.1 trillion Americans spend on groceries. —Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2024

The bonuses account for 9.4% of the total ticket earnings of her historic tour. —Bryan West, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

Synthetic fibers — such as polyester, nylon, spandex and acrylic — account for about two-thirds of textile products today. —Fairchild Studio, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024