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

---

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]

---

Example Sentences

However, Burnham's backers argue this does not account for the strong personal support he has in Greater Manchester, where he has won three successive landslides in mayoral elections.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Several large studies also showed that when researchers account for a person's average body weight over time, weight cycling itself is no longer linked to higher risks of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

Together, they account for roughly half of the total value of all stocks traded worldwide.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

Is it any surprise that healthcare and social assistance account for all of the state’s net job growth since the start of the pandemic?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

“It’s hard to say. Maybe I was mistaken about them being there in my living room. I can’t account for anything I see when I start blanking out,” I said.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith