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

Pistachio trees account for more than 22% of tree nut bearing acres in California — only beaten by the state’s $5.66 billion almond industry.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

Then many cities’ bottom lines fell by tens of millions more in 2018 when they began having to also account for other post-employment benefits promises such as retiree healthcare.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

But that growth attracted competition; retailers expanded their shelf space, particularly at club chains, which account for more than 40% of BellRing’s sales, she noted.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

The nonpartisan Bureau of Governmental Research argued that the analysis failed to account for the greater complexity of cases in the state’s biggest city.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

Something had to account for that just-right amount of lumpiness.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife