attribute (something) to (someone or something)
idiom
1
: to say that (something) is because of (someone or something)
He attributes his success to his coach.
His doctor attributes his health problems to a poor diet and a lack of exercise.
2
: to think of (something) as being a quality of (someone or something)
The study suggests that it is a mistake to attribute adult reasoning to children.
Is it right to attribute complex emotions to animals?
She attributed some importance to the research.
3
: to think of (something) as being made or created by (someone)
The poem is usually attributed to Shakespeare, but some scholars doubt that he wrote it.
Examples of attribute (something) to (someone or something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Driving has gotten more dangerous, but the police are giving out fewer tickets, a decline that some attribute to a law enforcement pullback after the pandemic and widespread protests over George Floyd’s death four years ago.
—
Kashmir Hill, New York Times, 9 June 2024
Following the October 14 explosion at Gaza’s al Ahli Arab hospital, which Israeli and U.S. officials attribute to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but which many Palestinians blame on Israel, violent demonstrations have broken out in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Tubas, and other major cities.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Cannibalism is something most people attribute to the young.
—Ron Hart, Orange County Register, 26 Apr. 2024
In fact, as of 2018, 13% of adults in the United States used antidepressants—and depression rates have soared since then, which some researchers largely attribute to the pandemic and its ripple effects.
—Kayla Blanton, SELF, 19 Mar. 2024
More New Yorkers have stopped paying their property taxes — a troubling trend since the onset of the pandemic that city officials attribute to the end of a tax-lien sales program that punishes delinquency.
—Martin Z. Braun, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
While other states could count on population growth to fuel their economies, California lost people in 2023 for the third consecutive year, a trend that experts attribute to high housing cost, crime and the ability to work remotely since the onset of the pandemic.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
During closing arguments Thursday, Miami-Dade assistant state attorney Natalie Snyder detailed the gruesome acts that jurors would attribute to Ewers.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024
The Mexican wolf reintroduction program has seen recent success in rebuilding a wild population, which AZGFD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attribute to strict rules like limiting the wolves to the recovery area.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024
Kashmir Hill, New York Times, 9 June 2024
Following the October 14 explosion at Gaza’s al Ahli Arab hospital, which Israeli and U.S. officials attribute to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but which many Palestinians blame on Israel, violent demonstrations have broken out in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Tubas, and other major cities.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Cannibalism is something most people attribute to the young.
—Ron Hart, Orange County Register, 26 Apr. 2024
In fact, as of 2018, 13% of adults in the United States used antidepressants—and depression rates have soared since then, which some researchers largely attribute to the pandemic and its ripple effects.
—Kayla Blanton, SELF, 19 Mar. 2024
More New Yorkers have stopped paying their property taxes — a troubling trend since the onset of the pandemic that city officials attribute to the end of a tax-lien sales program that punishes delinquency.
—Martin Z. Braun, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
While other states could count on population growth to fuel their economies, California lost people in 2023 for the third consecutive year, a trend that experts attribute to high housing cost, crime and the ability to work remotely since the onset of the pandemic.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
During closing arguments Thursday, Miami-Dade assistant state attorney Natalie Snyder detailed the gruesome acts that jurors would attribute to Ewers.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024
The Mexican wolf reintroduction program has seen recent success in rebuilding a wild population, which AZGFD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attribute to strict rules like limiting the wolves to the recovery area.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attribute (something) to (someone or something).' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near attribute (something) to (someone or something)
Cite this Entry
“Attribute (something) to (someone or something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attribute%20%28something%29%20to%20%28someone%20or%20something%29. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
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