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Definition of account verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Oxford3000

account

verb
/əˈkaʊnt/ account pronunciation American
 
[usually passive] (formal) to have the opinion that someone or something is a particular thing account someone/something + adjectiveIn American law, a person is accounted innocent until they are proved guilty. account someone/something + nounThe event was accounted a success.IDIOMS

all present and accounted for

used to say that all the things or people who should be there are now there
all present and accounted for

there's no accounting for taste

(saying) used to say how difficult it is to understand why someone likes someone or something that you do not like at allShe thinks he's wonderful—oh well, there's no accounting for taste.there's no accounting for taste
PHRASAL VERBS

account for something

1 to be the explanation or cause of something synonym explainThe bad weather may have accounted for the small crowd.Oh well, that accounts for it (= I understand now why it happened).2 to give an explanation of something synonym explainHow do you account for the show's success?He was unable to account for the error.3 to be a particular amount or part of somethingThe Japanese market accounts for 35% of the company's revenue.account for

account for someone/something

1 to know where someone or something is or what has happened to them, especially after an accidentAll passengers have now been accounted for.Three files cannot be accounted for.2 (informal) to defeat or destroy someone or somethingOur antiaircraft guns accounted for five enemy bombers.account for

account for something (to someone)

to give a record of how the money in your care has been spentWe have to account for every penny we spend on business trips.account foraccount for to
Usage notesLanguage Bank: proportiondescribing fractions and proportionsAccording to this pie chart, a third of students' leisure time is spent watching TV.One in five hours is spent socializing.Socializing accounts for/makes up/comprises about 20% of leisure time.Students spend twice as much time playing computer games as playing sports.Three times as many hours are spent playing computer games as reading.The figure for playing computer games is three times higher than the figure for reading.The largest proportion of time is spent playing computer games.⇨ note at half⇨ Thesaurus at consist⇨ Language Banks at expect, fall, illustrate, increase