（account for something）
- 是…的说明（或原因）
- The poor weather may have accounted for the small crowd. 天气不好可能是人来得少的原因。
- Oh well, that accounts for it (= I understand now why it happened). 哎呀，原来是这么一回事。
- 解释；说明
- How do you account for the show's success? 你认为这次演出为何成功？
- （数量上、比例上）占
- The Japanese market accounts for 35% of the company's revenue. 日本市场占该公司收入的35%。
（account for somebody/something）
- （尤指在事故之后）了解，查明
- All passengers have now been accounted for. 现在所有乘客的情况均已查明。
- 〈俗〉 打败；破坏；摧毁；消灭
- Our anti-aircraft guns accounted for five enemy bombers. 我们的高射炮击落了五架敌人的轰炸机。
（account for something (to somebody)）
- 说明钱财的处置情况；报账
- We have to account for every penny we spend on business trips. 我们出公差所用的每一分钱都得报清楚。