phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb
account for
to explain a reason
What it means
To explain the reason for something, or to be the cause or proportion of it. It is inseparable and slightly formal, often appearing in writing, news, and business contexts.
Examples
- How do you account for the sudden drop in sales last quarter?
- Tourism accounts for nearly a third of the country's income.
- She couldn't account for the missing money in the office safe.
- Bad weather accounts for most of the delays we've seen this week.
Where it comes from
Originally an accounting term from the 1500s, meaning to give a numerical reckoning. Over time it broadened to mean any kind of explanation or justification, and is now standard in both literal and figurative use.
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