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

An 86-year-old white man in Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree assault in the 2023 shooting of a Black teenager who mistakenly rang his doorbell, according to prosecutors. —Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025

Joseph lived in Cliffside Park, N.J., according to police. —Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025

Blame housing Instead, commissions have remained largely unchanged since August, according to a study released this month by real estate platform Redfin. —Samantha Delouya, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025

Gamification Some 94% of Gen Alpha play video games, more than any other generation, according to a 2024 global study by Newzoo, a provider of video game data. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for according to

• hullabaloo
• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup

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