account for something phrasal verb ( see also ↑ account )
1 . to form a particular amount or part of something:
Afro-Americans account for 12% of the US population.
2 . to be the reason why something happens SYN explain :
Recent pressure at work may account for his behavior.
3 . to give a satisfactory explanation of why something has happened or why you did something SYN explain :
Can you account for your movements on that night?
4 . to say where all the members of a group of people or things are, especially because you are worried that some of them may be lost:
Three days after the earthquake, more than 150 people had still to be accounted for.