account

uh-KOWNT/əˈkaʊnt/

Pluralaccounts

Verbaccounts, accounting, accounted

19 meanings of account

Practice

1
user loginnouncountable
A way to log in to a website or app using your own name and password.
Like a key that lets only you into your own locker.
I made an account so I could save my game progress.
You need an account to post comments on the site.
UsageYou log in to your account. You have an account with a website.
Similarmembership
Note
2
banknouncountable
A bank service that holds your money so you can save, add, or take it out.
Like a safe box at the bank where your money is kept.
I opened a new account at the local bank last week.
She moved her savings into a different account.
UsageOpen an account at a bank. Put money into your account.
Note
3
nouncountable
A description of what happened, sometimes including why it happened.
Like telling a friend the whole story of your day.
She gave a clear account of what she saw at the scene.
His account of the trip made everyone laugh.
UsageSay an account of what happened.
Similarreport, description, story, narrative, version
4
money recordnouncountable
A written record of money coming in and going out.
Like a notebook where you write down every dollar you get and spend.
The shop owner checked her accounts at the end of each month.
Keep an account of everything you spend on the trip.
UsageYou keep an account of the money you spend.
Similarbooks, records, ledger
5
explain whyverbintransitive
To give a good reason that explains why something happened.
Like explaining why you were late so people understand.
Doctors could not account for her sudden fever.
What accounts for the cold weather this spring?
UsageSay account for something: explain why it happened.
Similarexplain
Note
6
reasonnoununcountable
A reason or purpose for doing something, or for someone's sake.
Like doing something for a friend's sake, not your own.
We canceled the trip on account of the storm.
Don't worry on my account.
UsageOn account of means because of. On no account means not ever.
7
verbintransitive
To explain and take responsibility for what you have done.
Leaders must account for their choices to the people who elected them.
One day he will have to account for his behavior.
UsageUse for before the action and to before the person: account to voters for your choices.
Similaranswer, justify, explain
8
nouncountable
A customer of a company, especially in advertising or sales, and the work done for that customer.
Our small agency just won the account of a big soda company.
She takes care of five large accounts for the sales team.
Similarclient, customer
9
verbintransitive
To be a certain part or amount of a bigger total, always used with for.
Kids account for most of the people at the park on weekends.
Rent accounts for half of what she earns each month.
Similarconstitute, represent, comprise
Note

Less common meanings

10
locateverbintransitive
To find out and show where someone is.
Like checking a list to make sure everyone made it out safely.
Rescuers worked through the night to account for everyone in the building.
After the storm, the camp leaders accounted for all the children.
UsagePeople often say everyone is accounted for: they know where everyone is.
Similarlocate
Note
11
nounarchaic
A count or calculation, or a record that shows it.
It seems that this severity weakened his frame, for three years syne come Martinmas he was taken ill with a fever of the bowels, and after a week's sickness he went to his account, where I trust he is accepted.
1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the TideHere, account means the final reckoning of a person's life after death.
Note
12
verbintransitive
To show and explain how money was spent or received.
Like showing the receipts for money someone gave you to spend.
The treasurer must account for every dollar the club spends.
She accounted for all the cash at the end of her shift.
UsageSay account for money: show how it was spent.
Similarexplain
13
importancenoununcountable
The importance, worth, or value that something has.
Like a tiny detail that doesn't change anything important.
His opinion was of little account to the others.
These small errors are of no account in the final score.
UsageSay of no account to mean not important.
Similarimportance, consequence, note, significance, worth
Note
14
verbtransitive
To think of someone or something in a certain way.
Like deciding in your mind that something is good or bad.
She was widely accounted the best teacher in the school.
Many critics account the film a true classic.
UsageSay be accounted a hero: be thought of as one.
Similarconsider, deem, reckon, judge
Note
15
killverbintransitive
To kill, capture, or destroy a person or thing.
A single hunter can account for dozens of rabbits in a season.
The artillery accounted for half the enemy column.
UsageSay account for: the cat accounted for three mice.
Similarkill, dispatch, destroy
Note
16
advantagenoununcountable
A gain or benefit you get from something.
He used his free time to good account and learned to cook.
The farmer turned the old barn to good account by renting it out for parties.
UsagePut something to good account: use it well.
Similaruse, advantage, effect, profit
Note
17
verbobsolete
In old use, to count or work out a number.
18
verbobsolete
To tell a story or describe what happened.
Note
19
noundated
A guess or judgment about the value of something.
To stand high in your account
1623, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of account apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–4, 6, 8–9, 11, 13, 16

It came through Middle English and French from a Latin word meaning "to sum up."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Account came through Middle English and French. en.wiktionary.org
Its ultimate Latin source means "to sum up." en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 5, 7, 10, 12, 14–15, 17–18

It came from an Old French word made from a- plus conter, meaning "to count."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Account came from Old French. en.wiktionary.org
The Old French source word was formed from a- plus conter. fr.wiktionary.org
Old French conter meant “to count.” en.wiktionary.org