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

As the Medicaid program’s two-year anniversary approaches, Georgia has enrolled just a fraction of those eligible, a result health policy researchers largely attribute to bureaucratic hurdles in the state’s work verification system. —ProPublica, 26 June 2025

The growth in that source of income has tapered off in recent years — something city officials attribute to decreases in consumer confidence. —Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 June 2025

Grand Targhee Resort, which offers world-class alpine skiing and dog-sled tours in winter, and mountain biking and horseback riding in warmer months, is a unique cultural attribute to the greater Teton Valley lifestyle. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 6 June 2025

The military, recognizing the technology’s potential, became involved, but after six years the Cedar Rockets project ended, a development that many Lebanese attribute to Western pressure. —Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 2 June 2025