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account for

to explain or give a reason for

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to explain the reason or cause of something; to give a satisfactory explanation

2. (verb) to represent a particular amount or percentage of something

3. (verb) to consider or include something as part of a calculation or plan

Examples

• 1. The report accounts for the increase in production costs.
• 2. Tourism accounts for 15% of the country's economy.
• 3. We need to account for travel time when planning the schedule.

How to use account for

Account for is a versatile phrasal verb used when explaining reasons (why something happened), describing proportions (what percentage or amount something represents), or factoring something into calculations. It is common in formal writing, business contexts, and academic discourse. The explanatory sense often suggests providing a satisfactory or complete justification, while the quantitative sense describes what portion of a whole something comprises.

Common phrases

• account for the difference
• account for the cost
• account for the delay
• account for a large portion
• hard to account for
• cannot account for

Synonyms

explain · justify · represent · constitute · comprise

Opposites

overlook · disregard · ignore

Word family

account (noun) · accounting (noun) · accountable (adjective) · accountability (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'account for' with 'count for' or forget that it requires an object, writing 'it accounts' without specifying what is being accounted for.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

back up, bank on, break down

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained