account for

ac·count for

A a

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [uh-kount fawr]
- /əˈkaʊnt fɔr/
- /əˈkaʊnt fɔː(r)/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [uh-kount fawr]
- /əˈkaʊnt fɔr/

Definitions of account for words

phrasal verb account for If a particular thing accounts for a part or proportion of something, that part or proportion consists of that thing, or is used or produced by it. 3
phrasal verb account for If something accounts for a particular fact or situation, it causes or explains it. 3
phrasal verb account for If you can account for something, you can explain it or give the necessary information about it. 3
phrasal verb account for If someone has to account for an action or policy, they are responsible for it, and may be required to explain it to other people or be punished if it fails. 3
phrasal verb account for If a sum of money is accounted for in a budget, it has been included in that budget for a particular purpose. 3
phrasal verb account for If you account for an enemy or opponent, you kill, destroy, or beat them. 3

See all 42 definitions of account for

Information block about the term

Origin of account for

First appearance:

before 1225

One of the 9% oldest English words

1225-75; (noun) Middle English a(c)ount(e), ac(c)ompte < Anglo-French, Old French aco(u)nte, acompte; (v.) Middle English ac(co)unten < Old French acunter, acompter. See ac-, count1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Account for

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Account for

account for popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

account for usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for account for

verb account for

clarify — To clarify something means to make it easier to understand, usually by explaining it in more detail.
justify — to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right: The end does not always justify the means.
resolve — to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something): I have resolved that I shall live to the full.

All 3 Synonyms of account for