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
To convince Americans that small isn’t bad anymore, automakers may have to bank on the inherent strengths of EVs: Without an engine to account for, these smaller cars can be designed with much more space inside.
—
Patrick George, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2024
Mobile orders account for roughly one-third of Starbucks’ total sales, and tend to be more complicated.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2024
Because individual tax receipts account for over 50% of government revenue compared to corporations at less than 10%, many ask if corporate taxes are too low.
—Mike Patton, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
Perry had been receiving regular ketamine infusion treatments for depression — in amounts not nearly enough to account for his death — from his regular doctors, who were not among those charged, authorities said.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, The Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for account for (someone or something) 
Patrick George, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2024
Mobile orders account for roughly one-third of Starbucks’ total sales, and tend to be more complicated.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2024
Because individual tax receipts account for over 50% of government revenue compared to corporations at less than 10%, many ask if corporate taxes are too low.
—Mike Patton, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
Perry had been receiving regular ketamine infusion treatments for depression — in amounts not nearly enough to account for his death — from his regular doctors, who were not among those charged, authorities said.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, The Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for account for (someone or something)
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'account for (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 account for (someone or something)
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 11 Sep. 2024.
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