1. In agreement with:
* This is the most common meaning of "according." It indicates conformity or correspondence with something else.
* Example: "According to the weather report, it will rain tomorrow." (The statement is in agreement with the weather report.)
2. In a particular way:
* This meaning describes how something is done.
* Example: "He painted the wall according to the instructions." (He followed the specific way of painting as outlined in the instructions.)
3. As a result of:
* This meaning shows a cause-and-effect relationship.
* Example: "According to my research, the answer is 42." (The research led to the conclusion that the answer is 42.)
4. In proportion to:
* This meaning describes a relationship between two things where one changes in relation to the other.
* Example: "The cost of the project is increasing according to the amount of materials needed." (The cost is rising proportionally to the increasing amount of materials.)
It's important to consider the context of the sentence when interpreting the meaning of "according" to understand its precise use.