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

Cinco de Mayo has become a de facto drinking holiday in the United States, which many scholars attribute to American brewing titans Anheuser-Busch and Miller aggressively marketing their products to Spanish-speaking audiences and sponsoring Cinco de Mayo celebrations across the nation in the 1980s. —Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

High costs, which local fire districts attribute to inflation, cause consternation for local budget managers. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025

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