- present participle of accord.
according
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(foll by to) in proportion; in relation
salary will be according to age and experience
-
(foll by to) on the report (of); as stated (by)
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(foll by to) in conformity (with); in accordance (with)
everything went according to plan
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(foll by as) depending (on whether)
-
not_standard dependent on
it's all according where you want to go
Etymology
Origin of according
Explanation
If someone says, "according to the weather man, it's going to rain," that means that the weather man is the source of the information. Like the word accord, according comes from the Old French acorder meaning "reconcile, agree, be in harmony." According and the word to seem to be in harmony, the one always followed by the other. The term according to can be used to attribute something reported — according to the news, the airports are closed (even though according to your friend, they're still open). It also refers to agreement with a plan. If you study according to your advisor's suggestions, you'll do well.
Vocabulary lists containing according
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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SHSAT: Language of the Test
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pulte—who announces many of the changes in posts on X—has more in store for the industries, including changing longstanding requirements around credit reports, according to a person familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
At the planting of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, he handed Queen Camilla the last poppy to be placed to mark VE Day 80, according to the Spirit of Normandy.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
The home’s staggering $67.5 million price tag works out to approximately $4,198 per square foot, according to the listing.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
This year’s telecast on NBC and Peacock was watched by 6.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen, down nearly 10% from the year before.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Seven learned that October was Seven’s potions tutor in Boggs Ferry and they had become friends, according to the older girl, which made Thorn blush.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
