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

Finally, while these technologies deliver quick wins in efficiency and emissions reduction, organizations must also account for their full lifecycle impact. —Nikhil Jain, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

Those mills account for most of the jobs in the US aluminum industry. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 4 June 2025

There will be another update in early August from NOAA's CPC to the seasonal outlook, which will account for how the season is progressing, which also takes place just before the climatological peak of the season. —Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 3 June 2025

Apparel exports account for more than 75 percent of total exports. —Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025