according to
Americanpreposition
-
in agreement or accord with.
according to his judgment.
-
consistent with; in conformity with.
to be paid according to one's experience.
-
on the authority of; as stated or reported by.
According to her, they have gone.
-
in proportion to.
He'll be charged according to his ability to pay.
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contingent on.
According to the number of winners, the judges will award duplicate prizes.
Etymology
Origin of according to
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English
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.
In 2025, four in 10 homes were purchased by baby boomers, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
Audiobooks have been among the strongest segments of the book market in recent years, with revenue from digital audiobook sales topping $1 billion in 2025, according to the Association of American Publishers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
A man who is seen in a social media video being punched by Santa Ana police officers will not face criminal charges in connection with that arrest, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
There are about 3,000 data centres currently operating in the US, with that number potentially doubling in the next few years, according to a report by, external Pew Research Center.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
If things go according to plan, we’ll be gone by then.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
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.
