# according

/əˈkɔɹdɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐkˈɔːdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/according
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. as stated by

preposition · CEFR B1

you use this to say who said something or where you found information.

For teachers: used to indicate the source of a statement or information; functions as part of the complex preposition 'according to'.

- According to the weather report, it will rain later this afternoon.
- According to the latest census data, the urban population has grown by nearly fifteen percent over the last decade.

Usage: Always followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun or pronoun.

Teaching tip: Remind students that 'according to' is for external sources, not for their own thoughts.

### 2. depending on

preposition · CEFR B2

in a way that matches a particular system or set of rules.

For teachers: in a manner that is consistent with or determined by a particular system, rule, or status.

- The students were grouped according to their reading level.
- The inheritance was distributed among the heirs according to the specific instructions laid out in the final will.

Usage: Used with 'to' to show a relationship of proportion or classification.

### 3. matching or agreeing

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

matching or in agreement with something else.

For teachers: agreeing or harmonious; often used in formal contexts to describe things that match.

- The two countries reached an according agreement on trade.
- The witness provided an according account that supported the defendant's version of events during the trial.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

Teaching tip: This adjective use is rare in modern speech; students will mostly encounter it in older literature or very formal legal documents.

## Examples

- According to the news, it will rain tomorrow.
- The students were grouped according to their test scores to ensure everyone received the right level of help.
- According to the latest archaeological evidence, the settlement was inhabited much earlier than previously thought, forcing historians to revise their timeline of the region's development.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.