account for (someone or something)
phrasal verb
accounted for (someone or something); accounting for (someone or something); accounts for (someone or something)
1
: to show what happened to (someone or something) : know where (something or someone) is
We have to account for the time we spend on each activity.
The government couldn't account for millions of dollars of the taxpayers' money.
Is everyone accounted for?
2
: to destroy or kill (someone or something)
Enemy fighters have accounted for most of our bombers, Sir.
3
chiefly British
: to defeat or beat (someone or something)
We accounted for the challengers 3–2.
Examples of account for (someone or something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While white-wine production is around 6 percent across the appellation and at most wineries, one producer, Château La Nerthe, devotes 10 percent of its vineyard acreage to white grapes and its white bottlings of CdP account for around 15 percent of total production.
—
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2025
Food and labor account for nearly 70% of restaurant expenses, leaving little room for margin.
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Since obesity is a risk factor, increasing rates of obesity may account for some of the rise in colorectal cancer.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
These programs account for around 14% of public school budgets, often supporting vulnerable students in school systems that critics say remain deeply unequal.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for account for (someone or something)
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Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2025
Food and labor account for nearly 70% of restaurant expenses, leaving little room for margin.
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Since obesity is a risk factor, increasing rates of obesity may account for some of the rise in colorectal cancer.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
These programs account for around 14% of public school budgets, often supporting vulnerable students in school systems that critics say remain deeply unequal.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for account for (someone or something)
Cite this Entry
“Account for (someone or something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/account%20for%20%28someone%20or%20something%29. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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