account for — to explain or give a reason for something
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to explain or give a reason for something
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈkaʊnt fɔːr/
Example Sentences
- My cat somehow managed to account for the disappearance of my entire pizza.
- Online shopping accounts for my empty wallet and full closet.
- Coffee accounts for 90% of my daily energy and 100% of my happiness.
account for
NOUN[/əˈkaʊnt fɔːr/]
to explain or give a reason for something

Sales dropped 30%, and the manager must account for every missing dollar at the meeting.

Every action must account for what happened before.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'account' (to count or reckon), derived from Latin 'ad-' (to) + 'computare' (to count or calculate). The phrase 'account for' developed in Middle English as a phrasal verb combining the noun 'account' with the preposition 'for'.
Breakdown
account (from Latin computare: to count/reckon) + for (preposition indicating purpose or responsibility) = account for (to explain or give reason for)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat somehow managed to account for the disappearance of my entire pizza.”
“Online shopping accounts for my empty wallet and full closet.”
“Coffee accounts for 90% of my daily energy and 100% of my happiness.”
“Social media accounts for the majority of time people spend on their phones.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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