account for

British  

verb

1. to give reasons for (an event, act, etc)

2. to make or provide a reckoning of (expenditure, payments, etc)

3. to be responsible for destroying, killing, or putting (people, aircraft, etc) out of action

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account for Idioms  

1. Be the determining factor in; cause. For example, The heat wave accounts for all this food spoilage , or Icy roads account for the increase in accidents .

2. Explain or justify, as in Jane was upset because her son couldn't account for the three hours between his last class and his arrival at home . Both of these related usages are derived from the literal meaning of the phrase, that is, “make a reckoning of an account.” [Second half of 1700s]

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Example Sentences

Semiconductor shipments, accounting for nearly one-quarter of total goods exports in 2025, drove trade growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bread, especially the baguette, is a staple in French diets but also a major source of salt, traditionally accounting for about 25% of the recommended daily intake.

From Science Daily

Maritime exports account for over two-thirds of Ukrainian agricultural exports, which some reports say add up to roughly $9bn.

From BBC

OpenAI executives say the total commitments are lower when you account for overlap in some of the deals, and that the agreements will take place over a long period of time.

From The Wall Street Journal

This type accounts for about 90% of all pancreatic cancer diagnoses.

From Science Daily