To explain something, to be responsible for it, or to represent a particular proportion of a total.
To say why something happened, or to be a part of a total amount.
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To provide an explanation for something that happened or a situation that exists.
"Can you account for where you were on the night of the incident?"
How do you account for the fact that unemployment has risen?
— Common political interview question, widely used in British and American news media.
To make up or represent a particular amount or proportion of a total.
"Tourism accounts for nearly 15% of the country's annual income."
To be the reason for something; to cause or explain a particular result.
"The cold weather accounts for the low turnout at the event."
To keep track of or include something in a plan or calculation.
"We need to account for delays when planning the project timeline."
One of the most versatile and frequently tested phrasal verbs in English. Used across academic, journalistic, and everyday registers. The 'constitute a proportion' sense is especially common in statistics and reports.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "account for" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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