What does according mean?
"According" is an English function word best known through its near-universal phrase "according to," which introduces the source of a statement or the standard by which something is judged. Saying "according to the report" signals that the facts come from that report rather than from the speaker directly — a nuance that makes the phrase essential in journalism, research, and everyday conversation, since it can subtly imply that the speaker takes no personal responsibility for the truth of the claim. In a second sense, "according" expresses proportionality or conformity, as in "taxes are levied according to income" or "she acted according to her principles," indicating that actions or amounts vary in step with some measure. The word derives ultimately from the Latin cor, meaning "heart," via the notion of being of one heart or in agreement. Its common derivatives include the adverb "accordingly" and the noun phrase "in accordance with."
adverbUsed chiefly in the phrase "according to" to indicate the source of information or the basis on which something is done; also, in older or formal use, meaning in agreement or harmony with something.
- Introducing a source of information or authority: as stated or reported by someone or something (e.g., "according to the newspaper").
- In a manner consistent with or proportionate to something (e.g., "everyone contributed according to their means").
"According to the weather forecast, rain is expected all weekend."
"According to the latest census, the town's population has doubled in a decade."
"Employees are paid according to experience and seniority."
At its heart, "according" literally means "heart-to-heart": it comes from the Latin cor, meaning heart, so when things happen "according to plan," they were originally said to be in one accord.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of according
"According" comes from the verb "accord," which entered Middle English from Old French acorder, itself from Vulgar Latin accordare, formed from Latin ad- ("to") plus cor, cordis ("heart"). The original sense was thus literally "to bring hearts together," i.e., to agree. The participial form "according" developed into the fixed prepositional phrase "according to" during the Middle English period, while the related adjective/noun "accordance" and adverb "accordingly" arose later from the same root. It shares its Latin heart-root with words such as concord, discord, and cordial.
Word family
Usage notes
"According" almost never stands alone; it appears either in the fixed phrase "according to" (which cannot be used for secondhand hearsay in careful writing — "according to John" implies John's claim may not be true) or before an object meaning "in proportion to." The adverbial derivative "accordingly" means "therefore" or "in the corresponding way."
Don't confuse with
"According to" attributes information to a source, while "in accordance with" means complying with rules or instructions and cannot introduce reported speech.