account for

phrasal verb [transitive]
Word forms "account for":
present tense I/you/we/they account for he/she/it accounts for present participle accounting for past tense accounted for past participle accounted for

1) account for something to be the reason why something exists or happens

A number of factors account for the differences between the two scores.

The increase in carbon dioxide emissions may account for changes in the climate.

2) account for someone/something to form, use, or produce a particular amount or part of a group of people or things

Electronic goods account for over 30% of our exports.

3) account for something to give an explanation for something bad that has happened, especially something that you are responsible for

You will be brought before the disciplinary panel to account for your behaviour.

How do you account for this sudden improvement in his test scores?

4) account for something

[often passive] to say how you have used, or how you will use, an amount of money that you are responsible for spending, especially in your job

She had to account for every penny she spent.

Investors were told that over half their savings had vanished and could not be accounted for.

5) account for someone

[usually passive] if someone is accounted for, you know where they are and so do not worry that they are not where they should be

One small child was still not accounted for.

6) there's no accounting for taste

mainly spoken used for saying that you think what someone likes is strange