account for

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle for

Usefulness

Meanings

1

Explain the cause of something

Why “for”? FOR connects a result with the thing that creates or explains it.

How do you account for the missing cash?
How do you explain the missing cash?
Heavy snow accounts for the delay.
Heavy snow explains the delay.

Test yourself

How do you account for the missing cash? What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

Sink In app icon

Sink In — iOS & Android

Practice “account for” in Sink In

Drill “account for” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.

  • Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
  • Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
  • Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
1,300+ phrasal verbs26 particle patternsBuilt for B1–C2
Sink In daily spaced-repetition practice session