account
To provide an explanation or reason for something that has happened. It is also used to describe making up a particular amount or part of a whole, especially when talking about money or statistics.
Examples
3 of 5Can you account for your whereabouts last night?
Can you explain where you were yesterday evening?
The department must account for every dollar spent this year.
The office needs to give a detailed report of all the money used this year.
That still doesn't account for why you're angry.
That is still not a clear reason for your anger.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of an accountant (the job). An accountant must 'account for' every penny in a business by explaining where it went.
Quick Quiz
The bad weather might _______ for the low number of people at the party.
Correct!
The correct answer is: account
Examples
Can you account for your whereabouts last night?
everydayCan you explain where you were yesterday evening?
The department must account for every dollar spent this year.
formalThe office needs to give a detailed report of all the money used this year.
That still doesn't account for why you're angry.
informalThat is still not a clear reason for your anger.
Volcanic activity can account for the changes in the climate.
academicVolcanoes can be the reason for the changes in the weather patterns.
Online orders account for half of our total sales.
businessInternet shopping makes up fifty percent of all the items we sell.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
account for something
to be the reason for something
call to account
to ask someone to explain a mistake or failure
there is no accounting for taste
it is impossible to explain why different people like different things
Often Confused With
To count is to find the total number of things, while to account is to explain the reason for something.
Usage Notes
The verb 'account' is most frequently used with the preposition 'for'. When you say 'X accounts for Y,' it means X is the reason for Y or X is a part of Y.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget the word 'for' after the verb when they want to give a reason. They might say 'He must account his actions' instead of 'He must account for his actions.'
Memory Tip
Think of an accountant (the job). An accountant must 'account for' every penny in a business by explaining where it went.
Word Origin
From the Old French word 'aconter', which means to reckon, calculate, or tell a story.
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
The bad weather might _______ for the low number of people at the party.
Correct!
The correct answer is: account
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free