Skip to main content

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.
💡 Concept

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

Every action must account for what happened before.
🎵 Rhyme

Every action must account for what happened before.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/əˈkaʊnt fɔːr/
🇬🇧 UK/əˈkaʊnt fə(r)/

🌳Etymology

Rootcount

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

amount
count
mount

🔗Collocations

account for the difference
account for a large proportion
account for the increase
account for variations
account for losses
fully account for

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My cat somehow managed to account for the disappearance of my entire pizza.”

😄 Fun example

“Online shopping accounts for my empty wallet and full closet.”

😄 Fun example

“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

Want to master 27,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.