according to

preposition

1
: in conformity with
2
: as stated or attested by
3
: depending on

Examples of according to in a Sentence

According to rumors I've heard, he was fired for stealing from the company. She always did everything according to the rules. I cooked the rice according to the directions on the box. He was paid according to how quickly he worked.
Recent Examples on the Web Demographics The majority of officers who died by suicide were white men in their 40s, according to the report. Luke Barr, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024 Many ancient redwoods were seared in a 2020 fire that devastated 97% of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the oldest state park, according to the state parks foundation report. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 In fact, the compliance and reporting burden continues to escalate, driven by multiple factors including new global tax rules, according to the report. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Dozens of patients died due to a lack of electricity, according to a report released in November. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 The United States ranked as the 33rd least polluted country, according to the report, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Kelly Kasulis Cho, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The family-friendly event will take place downtown on Saturday and will feature nearly 60 different performance groups, including dancers, marching bands and classic cars, according to the parade website. Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 Most of the homes in Greenway are valued at less than $150,000, according to the Tarrant Appraisal District. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 The teen was charged with murder, according to the Grand Forks Police Department. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'according to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acordyng to, from acordyng "agreeing" (from present participle of accorden "to accord entry 1") + to to entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of according to was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near according to

Cite this Entry

“According to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/according%20to. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

according to

preposition
1
: in agreement with
did everything according to the rules
2
: as stated by
according to the experts
3
: depending on
dress according to the weather

More from Merriam-Webster on according to

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