account for

Verb

account for (third-person singular simple present accounts for, present participle accounting for, simple past and past participle accounted for)

1. (transitive) To explain by relating circumstances; to show that some one, thing or members of a group are present or have been processed.
   • I don't have to account for anything to you.
   • The storekeeper was expected to account for any material removed.
2. (transitive) To be the primary cause of
   • The torrential downpour would account for the saturated state of the land.
3. (transitive) To constitute in amount or portion.
   • German speakers accounted for 37% of the population.
   • ... and car strikes account for more than 50000, it's obvious the wolves' effect on the state's deer herd is so small as to be meaningless.1992 November 15, “Scientists monitoring return of wolves to Upper Pennisula”, in Chicago Tribune
4. (transitive) To make or render a reckoning of funds, persons, or things.
   • His mind accounted for one useless article after another in a vain search for any kind of makeshift tool. Not a scrap of metal, not even a serviceable edge of broken stone or brick, had been left to suggest escape.1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries
   • When you deduct the direct and indirect costs, the picture looks a little different. Only mail and coal traffic generated a net revenue when accounting for all costs, not just direct operating costs.2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 46
5. (transitive) To be answerable for.
6. (transitive) To destroy or put out of action.
   • Coyotes account for more rabbits than hunters do.
   • Allied Air Forces Account for 34 Axis Aircraft1942 October 11, “Check of Fortress, Liberator Raid At Lille Reveals High Enemy Loss”, in Hartford Courant
7. (dated, transitive) To kill, as in hunting.
   • He accounted for two deer today.