account for (someone or something)

phrasal verb

accounted for (someone or something); accounting for (someone or something); accounts for (someone or something)
1
: to show what happened to (someone or something) : know where (something or someone) is
We have to account for the time we spend on each activity.
The government couldn't account for millions of dollars of the taxpayers' money.
Is everyone accounted for?
2
: to destroy or kill (someone or something)
Enemy fighters have accounted for most of our bombers, Sir.
3
chiefly British : to defeat or beat (someone or something)
We accounted for the challengers 3–2.

Examples of account for (someone or something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Verdi’s Risorgimento-pumping glorification of war may also account for its infrequent appearance on mainstages. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 Financial Times - Middle managers account for nearly a third of total layoffs in the U.S. as company efficiency pressure mounts. Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 What causes tumble dryer fires? While electrical and mechanical issues account for some of the annual tumble dryer blazes, by far the leading cause of these fires is a build-up of lint. USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024 Takeout orders account for about 80% of Johnny Roger’s dinner business, up from 20% prepandemic. Heather Haddon, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2024 But after Moose pressures the more sheepish AJ to empty his bank account for an overpaying bid on the Snack Shack, the only way out of the red is going all-in on the business. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 The findings indicate that researchers should re-examine models of human origins to account for the genetic diversity of India, the study authors write. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 Critics note that the idea of a poisoner-villain doesn’t account for the complications of drug use. Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Renewable energies currently account for 40% of New England’s resource mix. Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'account for (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 account for (someone or something)

Cite this Entry

“Account for (someone or something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/account%20for%20%28someone%20or%20something%29. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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