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

Whether by focusing on such hybrid players or by building a portfolio balancing pioneers and scalers, savvy tech investors always account for multiple likely scenarios.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026

In addition to ingredients, your budget should account for any decor, plates and cutlery.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026

The researchers say future climate assessments should look beyond biologically driven carbon emissions alone and account for geological sources and sinks that emerge as frozen landscapes continue to thaw.

From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026

Could the book’s timing with America’s 250th anniversary account for this publishing marvel?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

A set of keys went missing for an hour early last week and then turned up again in the wrong place, and nobody can account for the time they were gone.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein