according to

preposition

1

: in conformity with

2

: as stated or attested by

3

: depending on

Examples of according to in a Sentence

According to rumors I've heard, he was fired for stealing from the company.

She always did everything according to the rules.

I cooked the rice according to the directions on the box.

He was paid according to how quickly he worked.

Recent Examples on the Web

Duffy had been angling to hold on to the NASA job, according to media reports. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025

And now, OpenAI is, according to news reports, laying the groundwork for an initial public offering that could value the company at up to $1 trillion, in what would be the largest IPO ever and a first for a former nonprofit. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025

Starbucks expects the total value of its China retail business to exceed $13 billion, according to the statement. —John Liu, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

Last year, 240,100 people in Arkansas received SNAP benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. —Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acordyng to, from acordyng "agreeing" (from present participle of accorden "to accord entry 1") + to to entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for according to

• hullabaloo
• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup

Kids Definition

according to

preposition

1

: in agreement with

did everything according to the rules

2

: as stated by

according to the experts

3

: depending on

dress according to the weather