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

Florida already has the highest percentage of senior residents in the United States, and it is projected that seniors will account for almost a third of Florida’s population by 2030, a significant increase from today’s 20 percent. —Mel Martinez, Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2024

Experts say online marketplaces account for the vast majority of unregulated private sales -- under the cloak of anonymity. —Kevin Krause The Dallas Morning News (tns), arkansasonline.com, 22 June 2024

However, the authors noted that cardiovascular symptoms account for about 7% of these events and cardiac arrest is behind about 58% of aircraft diversions. —Kristen Fischer, Health, 21 June 2024

China has put a lot of cash into advancing its electric vehicle industry, which is set to account for 10 million sales this year in the world’s largest auto market. —William Gavin, Quartz, 21 June 2024