Below you will find two examples and then the meaning of the phrasal verb 'attribute to' which you are likely to find used in the Cambridge Advanced exam.
In order to remember this use, make sure to make an example in your own words with the phrasal verb.
Examples
People often ATTRIBUTE why some people are successful and other's not TO their genes. However, scientists today say other factors are equally, if not more, important in this.
Some psychologists believe that the development of many psychological disorders in adulthood can largely be ATTRIBUTED TO traumas suffered in childhood.
Meaning
To say what you believe the main cause of something is.
To see some more examples of this phrasal verb watch our YouTube video on the phrasal verb.
Return to the list of 50 commonly phrasal verbs in the CAE exam.