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
The runup in cryptocurrency markets extends a rally that began in October, and which many attribute to bets that the Securities and Exchange Commission will approve ETFs that directly hold BTC, known as spot bitcoin ETFs.
—
WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023
Following the October 14 explosion at Gaza’s Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital, which Israeli and U.S. officials attribute to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but which many Palestinians blame on Israel, violent demonstrations have broken out in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Tubas, and other major cities.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Biden Administration: After declaring its unambiguous support for Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks, the White House has become more critical of the country’s response, a shift that U.S. officials attribute to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
—Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
He’s just got this incredible attribute to remember everything.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
Men tend to have higher levels than women, which researchers attribute to menstruation helping eliminate the chemicals from the body.
—Patricia Kime, Hannah Norman, Kff Health News, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2023
The rate at which victims pay ransoms has been steadily declining for years, which cyber experts attribute to higher investments in security, better practices, and more thorough incident-response training and preparation.
—James Rundle, WSJ, 20 Sep. 2023
Committee Democrats also questioned the bill’s expansion of the three-strikes law, a relic of the state’s tough-on-crime past that many attribute to the wave of mass incarcerations that has filled up prisons.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
But the company has for years been beset by losses as well as internal tumult that many attribute to Neumann, whose tenure has been scrutinized by analysts and academics and immortalized in a documentary and a fictional miniseries on Apple TV.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
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WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023
Following the October 14 explosion at Gaza’s Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital, which Israeli and U.S. officials attribute to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but which many Palestinians blame on Israel, violent demonstrations have broken out in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Tubas, and other major cities.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Biden Administration: After declaring its unambiguous support for Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks, the White House has become more critical of the country’s response, a shift that U.S. officials attribute to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
—Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
He’s just got this incredible attribute to remember everything.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
Men tend to have higher levels than women, which researchers attribute to menstruation helping eliminate the chemicals from the body.
—Patricia Kime, Hannah Norman, Kff Health News, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2023
The rate at which victims pay ransoms has been steadily declining for years, which cyber experts attribute to higher investments in security, better practices, and more thorough incident-response training and preparation.
—James Rundle, WSJ, 20 Sep. 2023
Committee Democrats also questioned the bill’s expansion of the three-strikes law, a relic of the state’s tough-on-crime past that many attribute to the wave of mass incarcerations that has filled up prisons.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
But the company has for years been beset by losses as well as internal tumult that many attribute to Neumann, whose tenure has been scrutinized by analysts and academics and immortalized in a documentary and a fictional miniseries on Apple TV.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attribute (something) to (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 attribute (something) to (someone or something)
Cite this Entry
“Attribute (something) to (someone or something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attribute%20%28something%29%20to%20%28someone%20or%20something%29. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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