1. account for - Verb
2. account for - Phrase
give reasons for
be the reason or explanation for
Source: WordNetIt is a test of true theories not only to account for but to predict phenomena. William Whewell
The first business of philosophy is to account for things as they are; and till our theories will do this, they ought not to be the ground of any practical conclusion. Thomas Malthus
It has always appeared to me, that there is so much to be done in this world, that all self-inflicted suffering which cannot be turned to good account for others, is a loss - a loss, if you may so express it, to the spiritual world. Arthur Helps
If there were a clear prospect that such evils were part of a barbarian past, then at least we might find a small crumb of comfort. No such prospect exists: no scientific analysis can even remotely answer or account for past and present horrors of human behaviour. Simon Conway Morris
I don't believe in luck, Sam. Luck is a tag given by the mediocre to account for the accomplishments of genius. Robert A. Heinlein
It takes taste to account for taste. Spanish Proverb