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
Reality check: Left-leaning young voters making up their minds could account for some of Harris' gains.
—
Noah Bressner, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
State policies have drastically reduced the amount of crude pumped from California’s oilfields, and foreign imports account for more than 60% of the total, over a third of that from Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
—Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
That statistic, however, does not account for the times when it's performed in conjunction with a larger facial rejuvenation procedure, like a facelift.
—Taryn Brooke, Allure, 24 Oct. 2024
The social media account for the airport acknowledged the viral attention by publishing a photo of their CEO and General Manager hugging in front of the sign.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for account for (something) 
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Noah Bressner, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
State policies have drastically reduced the amount of crude pumped from California’s oilfields, and foreign imports account for more than 60% of the total, over a third of that from Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
—Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
That statistic, however, does not account for the times when it's performed in conjunction with a larger facial rejuvenation procedure, like a facelift.
—Taryn Brooke, Allure, 24 Oct. 2024
The social media account for the airport acknowledged the viral attention by publishing a photo of their CEO and General Manager hugging in front of the sign.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for account for (something)
Dictionary Entries Near account for (something)
Cite this Entry
“Account for (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/account%20for%20%28something%29. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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