account
account — verb
1. to form an opinion that a person or thing has a particular quality or status, of
to form an opinion that a person or thing has a particular quality or status, often in a careful or official judgement.
The villagers had long accounted Mrs. Patel the wisest woman in the valley.
account + object + noun complement, formal register
Among local fishermen, the old harbour at Brixham is still accounted lucky.
passive: be accounted + adjective
Critics now account her early novels as her finest work.
account + object + as + noun
The judges accounted Lior a serious contender after his strong opening match.
In Roman law, a child born after the father's death was accounted legitimate.
passive form in formal historical contexts
- account someone lucky
- account something a success
- be accounted wise
- be accounted a hero
- account as legitimate
Grammar Patterns
account + object + (as) + noun/adjective
be accounted + noun/adjective
Usage Note
Frequently passive (be accounted X). Sounds formal, literary, or legalistic; in everyday speech, speakers prefer 'consider' or 'regard as'. The complement is a noun or adjective, never a that-clause.
Common Mistakes
account — noun
1. a service from a bank that lets you store your money safely, add to it, and take
a service from a bank that lets you store your money safely, add to it, and take some out whenever you want.
Vesna opened her first account at the bank near the train station last week.
open + an account + at/with [bank]
Hiro transferred two thousand dollars from his savings account to pay the rent.
[type] + savings/checking + account
There is barely fifty pounds left in my account until payday on Friday.
money + in + somebody's + account
The Watanabe family closed their joint account after they moved to Osaka.
close + a joint account
Please write your account number clearly at the top of the form.
compound: account number / account holder
- open an account
- close an account
- savings account
- joint account
- account number
- balance of an account
- deposit account
specific type that earns interest on stored money
- checking account
American term for an everyday-use account; British equivalent is 'current account'
Grammar Patterns
open / close / have an account with [bank]
Usage Note
Object is usually a fixed bank product: savings account, checking/current account, joint account, deposit account. The verb collocates strongly: open, close, hold, transfer to/from.
Common Mistakes
2. a detailed report, in writing or speech, telling other people what happened duri
a detailed report, in writing or speech, telling other people what happened during a particular event or situation.
The witness gave a clear account of the robbery to the detective.
give + an account + of + [event]
Her diary contains a moving account of life in the village during the war.
an account of + [period/topic]
Reporters were asked to write a short account of the minister's speech.
short / brief + account
Lior published a first-hand account of his three months in the Antarctic.
first-hand / detailed / vivid + account
The two boys gave very different accounts of who started the fight.
different / conflicting + accounts
- give an account of
- detailed account
- first-hand account
- eyewitness account
- vivid account
- report
more formal and often written for an institution
- description
broader; 'account' implies sequence of events, 'description' may be static
- narrative
literary; emphasises story-shape over factual record
Grammar Patterns
an account of [event/situation]
give / provide an account
Usage Note
Almost always followed by 'of' plus the event or topic being described. Distinguish from sense 1 (BANK): this sense is uncountable-feeling reporting, not a financial product.
Common Mistakes
3. used in the fixed phrase 'by all accounts' to introduce something that lots of d
used in the fixed phrase 'by all accounts' to introduce something that lots of different people are reporting, even if the speaker has no direct proof.
By all accounts, the new principal is much stricter than the last one.
By all accounts + [clause]
The concert in Berlin was, by all accounts, the best show of the tour.
mid-sentence: , by all accounts ,
By all accounts, Mrs. Nadia was a brilliant teacher who pushed her students hard.
introducing reported reputation
The festival, by all accounts, drew a record crowd to the small fishing town.
register: journalism / reporting
- by all accounts
- by recent accounts
- by most accounts
- apparently
less precise; doesn't suggest multiple sources
- reportedly
more formal; common in news writing
Grammar Patterns
By all accounts, [clause]
Usage Note
Only appears in this fixed phrase. The speaker is repeating what others say, so the claim is hearsay rather than personal observation. Distinguish from sense 4 ('by your own account'), which credits a single person, not the public.
Common Mistakes
4. used in the fixed phrase 'by one's own account' to mark a claim as coming from t
used in the fixed phrase 'by one's own account' to mark a claim as coming from the person concerned, with no other evidence yet that it is true.
By his own account, Tom had never set foot in the warehouse before that night.
By + [possessive] + own account
The painter, by her own account, finished the mural in just three days.
mid-sentence with comma pair
By their own account, the climbers reached the summit just after sunrise.
plural possessive: by their own account
Lior, by his own account, had quit smoking the day his daughter was born.
introducing self-reported claim
- by his own account
- by her own account
- by their own account
- according to himself/herself
more conversational equivalent
Grammar Patterns
By his/her/their own account, [clause]
Usage Note
The speaker passes responsibility for the truth of the claim to the named person. Often signals mild scepticism. Distinguish from sense 3 ('by all accounts'), which appeals to many people, not just the subject.
Common Mistakes
5. used in the phrase 'on account of' to introduce the cause or reason that somethi
used in the phrase 'on account of' to introduce the cause or reason that something happened.
The flight to Tokyo was delayed on account of heavy snow at the airport.
on account of + [noun phrase]
Uri missed two days of school on account of a bad cough.
on account of + [reason for absence]
The match was called off on account of the waterlogged pitch.
passive event + on account of
Daniel turned down the promotion on account of having a young baby at home.
on account of + [-ing clause]
The library closes early on account of staff training every first Tuesday.
formal register / written notices
- on account of the weather
- on account of illness
- on account of his age
- because of
neutral, far more frequent in speech
- due to
interchangeable in formal writing
- owing to
formal; preferred sentence-initially
Grammar Patterns
on account of + [noun phrase]
on account of + [-ing clause]
Usage Note
Slightly formal — 'because of' is more common in everyday speech. Followed by a noun phrase or a gerund clause, not a full finite clause: say 'on account of the rain', not 'on account of it rained'.
Common Mistakes
6. a deal you have set up with a particular shop or company so you can take goods o
a deal you have set up with a particular shop or company so you can take goods or services now and pay the bill afterwards.
The chef told the waiter to put the wine on the restaurant's account.
put + [item] + on + somebody's + account
Mrs. Cole keeps an account at the village butcher and pays at the end of each month.
keep / hold + an account + at + [shop]
Please settle your account before the first of next month, or we may charge interest.
settle + an account
The hotel offered Lior an account so his company could pay for stays each quarter.
offer / set up + an account
Loyal customers can open an account with the wine merchant and order by phone.
open + an account + with + [merchant]
- open an account with
- settle the account
- put it on my account
- monthly account
- trade account
- credit account
more explicit term used in business contexts
- tab
informal; mainly for small running totals at bars or cafés
Grammar Patterns
have / open / settle an account with [shop]
put it on someone's account
Usage Note
Subject is usually a shop, restaurant, or supplier; the customer 'has' or 'opens' the account, the supplier 'extends' or 'offers' it. Distinguish from sense 1 (BANK): a bank account holds your money, while this account holds your unpaid bill.
Common Mistakes
7. a person or company that regularly buys goods or services from another company,
a person or company that regularly buys goods or services from another company, especially one that is treated as a long-term client.
Sophie was promoted after she brought three new accounts to the agency last year.
bring [a number of] accounts to [a company]
The advertising firm lost a major account when the supermarket chain switched suppliers.
major / key account
Lior handles all the European accounts from the Berlin office.
handle / manage [region] accounts
Their biggest account is a French car maker that orders parts every month.
biggest account is [company]
The sales team meets weekly to review progress on each account.
- major account
- key account
- win an account
- lose an account
- handle an account
Usage Note
Subject is usually a company or sales team, and the account refers to the buying side, not the selling side. Often paired with verbs like win, lose, handle, manage.
Common Mistakes
8. a personal record set up with a website, app, or email service, allowing one use
a personal record set up with a website, app, or email service, allowing one user to log in with their name and a password to use the service.
Daniel created an Instagram account so he could share photos of his trip to Kyoto.
create / set up an account
Please log in to your Gmail account before opening the shared document.
log in to your account
My grandmother forgot the password to her email account again this morning.
password to [an] account
The school deleted Uri's old account when she finished her final year.
delete / close an account
You need a Spotify account to save your favourite songs into playlists.
- create an account
- set up an account
- log in to an account
- delete an account
- email account
- social media account
Usage Note
Almost always paired with a service name (email, Twitter, Netflix) or a device. Distinguish from sense 1 (BANK): a bank account holds money, while this sense holds login data and user content.
Common Mistakes
9. the value or significance attached to a person or thing, used mainly in fixed ph
the value or significance attached to a person or thing, used mainly in fixed phrases like 'of no account' or 'of little account' to say something does not matter much.
In the duke's eyes, the opinions of the villagers were of no account.
of no account = not important
The cost of the repair was of little account compared to saving the old church.
of little account compared to
Whether she arrived by train or by car was of small account to her host.
of small account to [person]
To the young scientist, fame and money were of no account beside his research.
- of no account
- of little account
- of small account
- of great account
- importance
the everyday word; used in any register, not only fixed phrases
- significance
more formal; emphasises lasting or wider meaning
- importance
the same noun in plain frames contrasts with 'of no account'
Grammar Patterns
of no/little/great account
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the frame 'of [no/little/small/great] account', often with 'to' or 'compared to'. Outside these phrases the sense sounds archaic. Distinguish from sense 'REASON' (on account of): that one explains a cause, while this one weighs importance.
Common Mistakes
10. a written or electronic record showing the money a business has received and pai
a written or electronic record showing the money a business has received and paid out over a period of time, often kept as a set of related documents.
Mr Patel checks the company accounts every Friday before the staff meeting.
check / go through the accounts
The charity must publish its accounts each year so donors can see how the money is spent.
publish accounts each year
Auditors found a small mistake in the school's accounts for last spring.
mistake / error in the accounts
Lucy keeps the family business accounts in a simple notebook by the till.
keep accounts (= record income and spending)
The bookshop sent us an account for the books we ordered in March.
an account = a bill / itemised statement
- keep the accounts
- check the accounts
- audit the accounts
- publish accounts
- company accounts
- annual accounts
Usage Note
Usually plural ('the accounts') when it means the full set of records; singular when it means one bill or one statement of charges. Common in business contexts and often paired with verbs like keep, check, audit, publish.
Common Mistakes
to perform well in a contest or difficult situation, even if you do not actually win.
The young boxer gave a good account of himself against the regional champion.
Our debating team didn't take first place, but the children gave a good account of themselves.
to make a person explain a mistake or wrongdoing they are responsible for, often expecting punishment.
Voters finally called the mayor to account for the missing city funds.
The coach called the players to account after their lazy performance against Spain.
to remember a particular fact or condition and let it affect a decision you are making.
When grading the essays, Ms. Patel took into account that several pupils had been ill.
The judge took the boy's age into account before deciding on the punishment.
on no account
idiomused to tell someone very firmly that they must not do something under any circumstances.
On no account should the children open the gate to strangers while we are out.
On no account must this letter reach the press before Monday morning.
A very detailed report of an event that tells every step in the order it happened.
Maya gave us a blow-by-blow account of the entire basketball game.
Did you hear Diego's blow-by-blow description of the car chase?
by/from all accounts
idiomAccording to what most people say.
By all accounts, the new restaurant in town serves excellent food.
The concert was a huge success, from all accounts.
by your own account
idiomAccording to what you yourself say.
By his own account, Tom had never seen such a beautiful sunset.
She admitted, by her own account, that she had made a mistake.
To demand that someone explain a mistake or problem because they are responsible for it.
The manager called the team to account for the project's failure.
Citizens called the mayor to account over the budget cuts.
of no/little account
idiomNot important or significant.
His opinion was of no account in the final decision.
The minor details were of little account to the overall plan.
on account
idiomBuying something with a small payment now and the rest later.
She bought the new sofa on account and paid monthly.
Can I take this dress on account and pay next week?
Because of what you think someone wants or needs.
Please don't stay home on my account; go enjoy the party.
He changed his travel plans on his wife's account.
Because of someone or something.
The flight was delayed on account of bad weather.
She was promoted on account of her hard work.
Not for any reason; under no circumstances.
On no account should you open the door to strangers.
You must not, on any account, touch that red button.
on your own account
idiomFor yourself; without being asked or sent by someone else.
She started a small business on her own account last year.
I came here on my own account, not because anyone told me to.
on this/that account
idiomBecause of the specific thing just mentioned.
The road was closed, but we didn't cancel the trip on that account.
He was late, but on this account, the meeting started without him.
To use something in a useful or beneficial way.
She turned her cooking skills to good account by opening a bakery.
He put his free time to good account by learning Spanish.
To punish someone who has harmed you in the past.
After years of rivalry, he finally settled an old score with his brother.
She was determined to settle accounts with the person who stole her idea.
To consider something when making a decision.
The judge took account of the defendant's young age when sentencing.
When planning the budget, we must take inflation into account.
Word family
- accountableadjectiveC1
- accountabilitynounC1
- accountantnounB2
- accountancynounC1
- accountingnounB2
- unaccountableadjectiveC2
- unaccountablyadverbC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All five words name a piece of speech or writing about something that happened, but each highlights a different angle. 'Account' is the everyday word in news and conversation for what one person says took place; it stays close to the speaker's own viewpoint and often goes with 'of', as in 'her account of the meeting'. 'Report' sounds more institutional — written for a teacher, manager, or police officer, and usually expected to be neutral and factual: 'a police report on the accident'. 'Description' is broader and need not move through time; you can describe a face or a room without telling a story. 'Narrative' is more literary, focusing on the shape of the events as a story with a beginning, middle, and end. 'Story' is the most casual and sometimes hints that the speaker may be exaggerating, as in 'that's his story, anyway'. Compare: a witness gives an account, the officer files a report, the novelist crafts a narrative, and friends swap stories at the pub.
Common collocations
Nouns
- bank account
- savings account
- current account
- joint account
- email account
- social media account
- account holder
- account number
- account manager
- company accounts
- annual accounts
Adverbs
- fully (give a full account)
- briefly (briefly describe an account)
- roughly (a rough account of)
Phrases
- by all accounts
- by his/her own account
- on account of
- on no account
- take something into account
- give an account of
- call somebody to account
- settle an account
- open an account
- close an account
Prepositions
- of (an account of the trip)
- with (an account with HSBC)
- at (an account at the butcher's)
- on (on account of the rain; put it on my account)
- by (by all accounts; by his own account)
- into (take into account; pay into an account)
- from (transfer from an account)
Etymology
Borrowed in the 1300s from Old French 'aconter', meaning to count up or reckon, formed from 'a-' (to) plus 'conter' (to count, tell). The French verb came from Latin 'computare', literally 'to think together' — the same root that gives English 'compute' and 'count'. The earliest English uses were the financial ones: a written reckoning of money owed or paid. From there the word stretched in two directions. The act of giving someone the figures led to 'account' meaning a spoken or written report of any event, and the noun for the running record at a shop or bank kept the original counting sense alive. The verb 'to account someone wise' is a later, more formal use, treating the act of judging someone as a kind of mental reckoning.