- (abbreviation a/c especially in British English, North American English usually acct.)an arrangement that somebody has with a bank, etc. to keep money there, take some out, etc.
- I don't have a bank account.
- I paid the money into my savings account.
- a joint account (= one in the name of more than one person)
- With internet banking you can manage your account online.
- account with somebody/something Do you have an account with us?
- account at something He opened an account at a bank in Germany.
- Interest will be paid monthly into the account holder's current account.
- What's your account number please?
Collocations FinanceFinanceIncomesee also bank account, budget account, checking account, current account, deposit account, numbered account, savings account- earn money/cash/(informal) a fortune/the minimum wage/a living wage
- make money/a fortune/(informal) a killing on the stock market
- acquire/inherit/amass wealth/a fortune
- build up funds/savings
- get/receive/leave (somebody) an inheritance/a legacy
- live on a low wage/a fixed income/a pension
- get/receive/draw/collect a pension
- depend/be dependent on (British English) benefits/(North American English) welfare/social security
- spend money/your savings/(informal) a fortune on…
- invest/put your savings in…
- throw away/waste/ (informal) shell out money on…
- lose your money/inheritance/pension
- use up/ (informal) wipe out all your savings
- pay (in) cash
- use/pay by a credit/debit/contactless card
- pay by/make out a/write somebody a/accept a (British English) cheque/(US English) check
- change/exchange money/currency
- give/pay/leave (somebody) a deposit
- have/hold/open/close/freeze a bank account/an account
- credit/debit/pay something into/take money out of your account
- deposit money/funds in your account
- withdraw money/cash/£30 from an ATM, etc.
- (formal) make a deposit/withdrawal
- find/go to/use (especially North American English) an ATM/(British English) a cash machine/dispenser
- be in credit/in debit/in the black/in the red/overdrawn
- use a mobile/an online banking app/platform/service
- manage/handle/plan/run/ (especially British English) sort out your finances
- plan/manage/work out/stick to a budget
- offer/extend credit (to somebody)
- arrange/take out a loan/an overdraft
- pay back/repay money/a loan/a debt
- pay for something in (especially British English) instalments/(North American English usually) installments
- get into debt/financial difficulties
- be short of/ (informal) be strapped for cash
- run out of/owe money
- face/get/ (informal) be landed with a bill for £…
- can’t afford the cost of…/payments/rent
- fall behind with/ (especially North American English) fall behind on the mortgage/repayments/rent
- incur/run up/accumulate debts
- tackle/reduce/settle your debts
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb1- She deposited the check in her account.
- I have a savings account with a building society.
- I paid the cheque into my current account.
- Your account is overdrawn.
- They have a numbered account in Switzerland.
- The money will be credited to your account tomorrow.
- She opened a savings account at the bank.
- She had taken all her money out of her account.
- My husband and I have separate accounts.
- I'd like to open an account, please.
- I have an account with another bank.
- Go and see the manager of the bank where your account is held.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bank
- building-society
- checking
- …
- have
- hold
- close
- …
- number
- holder
- balance
- …
- account at
- account with
- an arrangement that somebody has with a company that allows them to use the internet, send and receive messages by email, social media, etc.
- an email/a Twitter account
- Millions of accounts have been hacked.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- expense
- charge
- credit
- …
- have
- create
- open
- …
- on account
- account at
- account with
- …
- a written or spoken description of something that has happened
- an eyewitness account (= a description given by somebody who saw what happened)
- a first-hand/personal/first-person account
- account of something Can you give us an account of what happened?
- The diaries contain a detailed account of the writer's experiences on the voyage.
Synonyms reportreportstory ▪ account ▪ versionThese are all words for a written or spoken account of events.report a written or spoken account of an event, especially one that is published or broadcast:- Are these newspaper reports true?
- It was many years before the full story was made public.
- the front-page story
- She gave the police a full account of the incident.
- She gave us her version of what had happened that day.
- a report/story about something
- a brief/short report/story/account
- a full report/story/account/version
- a news report/story
- to give a(n) report/account/version
Extra Examples- Dr Richards describes this very well in his account of the events.
- She received a glowing account of her son's progress.
- the newspaper account of the trial
- She gave the police a full account of the incident.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- short
- blow-by-blow
- …
- give (somebody)
- offer
- provide (somebody with)
- …
- in an/the account
- by all accounts
- by somebody’s own account
- account (of something) an explanation or a description of an idea, a theory or a process
- the Biblical account of the creation of the world
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- short
- blow-by-blow
- …
- give (somebody)
- offer
- provide (somebody with)
- …
- in an/the account
- by all accounts
- by somebody’s own account
- [usually plural] a written record of money that is owed to a business and of money that has been paid by it
- to do the accounts
- to keep the accounts up to date
- the accounts department
- She works in Accounts (= the accounts department).
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb2- Try to keep accurate accounts.
- The accounts are all in order.
- Your accounts will need to be submitted to the tax office.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- profit and loss account
- accounts payable
- accounts receivable
- …
- do
- keep
- audit
- …
- be in order
- account book
- account balance
- (British English also credit account)(North American English also charge account)an arrangement with a shop or business to pay bills for goods or services at a later time, for example in regular amounts every month
- Put it on my account please.
- We have accounts with most of our suppliers.
- Log in to your account to see how much you have spent.
Synonyms billbillaccount ▪ invoice ▪ checkThese are all words for a record of how much you owe for goods or services you have bought or used.bill a list of goods that you have bought or services that you have used, showing how much you owe; the price or cost of something:see also charge account, credit account- the gas bill
- Put it on my account please.
- The builders sent an invoice for £250.
- Can I have the check, please?
- the bill/invoice/check for something
- to pay/settle a(n) bill/account/invoice/check
- to put something on the/somebody’s bill/account/invoice/check
Extra ExamplesTopics Shoppingb2- Charge this to my account, please.
- an account with a large store
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- expense
- charge
- credit
- …
- have
- create
- open
- …
- on account
- account at
- account with
- …
- (British English) a bill for goods or services provided over a period
- Departing guests should settle their accounts at the office.
- It is best to settle the account each month.
- (business) a regular customer
- The agency has lost several of its most important accounts.
at bank
computing
description
business records
with shop
bill
regular customer
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘counting’, ‘to count’): from Old French acont (noun), aconter (verb), based on conter ‘to count’.
Idioms
See account in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee account in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englisha blow-by-blow account, description, etc. (of something)
- (informal) a description of an event that gives you all the details in the order in which they happen
- He insisted on giving us a blow-by-blow account of what had happened.
- She gave us a blow-by-blow account of the incident.
by/from all accounts
- according to what other people say
- I've never been there, but it's a lovely place, by all accounts.
by your own account
- according to what you say yourself
- By his own account he had an unhappy childhood.
call somebody to account (for/over something)
- to make somebody explain a mistake, etc. because they are responsible for it
give a good account of yourself
- (British English) to do something or perform well, especially in a contest
- The team gave a good account of themselves in the match.
of no/little account
- (formal) not important
- Emotional matters were of no account to them during the war.
on account
- if you buy something or pay on account, you pay nothing or only a small amount immediately and the rest later
- Call a cab on account.
- Ring for a cab on account.
- She bought the furniture she wanted on account.
on somebody’s account
- because of what you think somebody wants
- Please don't change your plans on my account.
on account of somebody/something
- because of somebody/something
- She retired early on account of ill health.
- The marsh is an area of great scientific interest on account of its wild flowers.
Language Bank because ofbecause ofExplaining reasonsTopics Change, cause and effectc1- The number of people with diabetes is growing, partly because of an increase in levels of obesity.
- The number of overweight children has increased dramatically in recent years, largely as a result of changes in diet and lifestyle.
- The increase in childhood obesity is largely due to changes in lifestyle and diet over the last twenty years.
- Childhood obesity is generally thought to be the result of eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity.
- Many obese children are bullied at school on account of their weight.
- Part of the problem with treating childhood obesity stems from the fact that parents do not always recognize that their children are obese.
- Childhood obesity may be caused by genetic factors, as well as environmental ones.
on no account | not on any account
- (used to emphasize something) not for any reason
- On no account should the house be left unlocked.
on your own account
- for yourself
- In 2012 Smith set up in business on his own account.
- because you want to and you have decided, not somebody else
- No one sent me. I am here on my own account.
on this/that account
- (formal) because of the particular thing that has been mentioned
- Weather conditions were poor, but he did not delay his departure on that account.
put/turn something to good account
- (formal) to use something in a good or helpful way
- He turned his artistic talents to good account by becoming a sculptor.
settle a score/accounts (with somebody) | settle an old score
- to hurt or punish somebody who has harmed or cheated you in the past
- ‘Who would do such a thing?’ ‘Maybe someone with an old score to settle.’
- An embittered Charlotte is determined to settle accounts with Elizabeth.
take account of something | take something into account
- to consider particular facts, circumstances, etc. when making a decision about something
- The company takes account of environmental issues wherever possible.
- Coursework is taken into account as well as exam results.
Check pronunciation:
account