account for (something)

phrasal verb

accounted for (something); accounting for (something); accounts for (something)

1

: to give a reason or explanation for (something)

How do you account for your success?

2

: to be the cause of (something)

These new features account for the computer's higher price.

3

: to make up or form (a part of something)

Women account for only 25 percent of our employees.

4

US : to think about (something) before doing something : to take (something) into consideration

The researchers failed to account for the fact that most of the students were poor.

Examples of account for (something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists certainly know dark matter exists due to some peculiar effects observed in the cosmos that normal matter can't account for. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2025

The top 5 holdings account for 70% of the total portfolio. —Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Still, these declines in each case account for less than half of their weekly gains and the broader reaction by the equity market has been to rotate rather than beat an outright retreat. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025

The pension obligations are costing $2.9 billion this year and account for 17% of the total Chicago budget. —Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025