account for
Give reasons for
Account for means to explain or provide a reason for something: How do you account for the missing funds?
It also means to constitute or represent a portion: Online sales account for sixty percent of our revenue.
In contexts involving people, to account for everyone is to confirm their whereabouts or safety: All passengers have been accounted for.
Make something understandable
- elucidateTo make understood
- explicateClarify through detailed analysis
- interpretExtract or convey meaning
- describeConvey in words
detail · illuminate · justify · reason · attribute · trace · demonstrate · show
Protect from harm
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
- vindicateClear of wrongdoing
- rationalizeExplain with invented reasons
- legitimizeMake lawful or valid
validate · warrant · substantiate · corroborate · support · stand behind · own up to · take responsibility
clarify
Make something understandable
- elucidateTo make understood
- explicateClarify through detailed analysis
- interpretExtract or convey meaning
describe · detail · illuminate · justify · reason · attribute · trace · demonstrate · show · identify
defend
Protect from harm
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
- vindicateClear of wrongdoing
- rationalizeExplain with invented reasons
legitimize · validate · warrant · substantiate · corroborate · support · stand behind · own up to · take responsibility · acknowledge
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, take responsibility, answerability, responsible
- explanationswhy, how come, explication, what happened, definition
- phrasal verbspick up, look at, put down, turn on, turn off
- responsibility verbsmanage, handle, oversee, supervise, lead
- communicateexpress, convey, communicate, tell, share