acquit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
acquits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
acquitted,
past participle, past
-
acquitting
present participle
-
to relieve from a charge of fault or crime; declare not guilty.
They acquitted him of the crime. The jury acquitted her, but I still think she's guilty.
- Antonyms:
- convict
-
to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.
- Synonyms:
- free
-
to settle or satisfy (a debt, obligation, claim, etc.).
-
to bear or conduct (oneself); behave.
He acquitted himself well in battle.
-
to free or clear (oneself).
He acquitted himself of suspicion.
verb
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(foll by of)
-
to free or release (from a charge of crime)
-
to pronounce not guilty
-
-
(foll by of) to free or relieve (from an obligation, duty, responsibility, etc)
-
to repay or settle (something, such as a debt or obligation)
-
to perform (one's part); conduct (oneself)
Synonym Usage
See absolve.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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acquitsimple
-
acquitssimple
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have acquittedperfect
-
has acquittedperfect
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am acquittingprogressive
-
are acquittingprogressive
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is acquittingprogressive
-
have been acquittingperfect progressive
-
has been acquittingperfect progressive
Past
-
acquittedsimple
-
had acquittedperfect
-
was acquittingprogressive
-
were acquittingprogressive
-
had been acquittingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of acquit
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English aquiten, from Anglo-French, Old French (ac)quiter, derivative, with a(c)- “toward” ( see ac-), from quite “free of obligations,” from Medieval Latin quit(t)us, Latin quiētus ( see quiet); cf. quit 1
Explanation
To acquit someone is to clear them of charges. Acquitting also has to do with how you carry or present yourself. If you're accused of a crime, then the best thing that can happen to you is being acquitted — that means you were cleared or exonerated of the charges. A defense lawyer wants to have his client acquitted. But watch out for another unrelated meaning: acquitting can mean how you behave, conduct, or carry yourself. If you acquit yourself like a champion, then you're acting like a champion.
Vocabulary lists containing acquit
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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And Then There Were None
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If they agree to do so, the judges may dismiss the appeal or uphold it, in which case they may order a new trial or acquit her.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Kuqi added he is "100% sure" they will acquit themselves better in the Premier League next season because of the lessons of 2024-25.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
In the end, the jury was hung—unable to break an impasse with a single juror who wanted to acquit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
"We expect the court to acquit Ms Esfandiari," her lawyer Nabil Boudi told AFP before Thursday's ruling.
From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026
Wishing to acquit my honor, I stood firm and handed my musket to Slant, who blinked in soft concern.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Apa acquits himself quite well as Wes, displaying a tough exterior getting into verbal and physical fights, but also his sensitive side as he comes to realize who and what he cares about.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2024
Typically, a jury acquits because the prosecution has failed to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2024
She acquits herself well, telling a story of persistence and courage that's laced with dry self-awareness and humour.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2023
Osborne acquits himself well on the court, demonstrating skills he learned while playing basketball in college and professionally in Australia.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 11, 2023
Thereupon Athene as president of the jury casts her vote in favor of Orestes and acquits him.
From The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State by Friedrich Engels
"In particular, it concluded that the appellant cannot rely on the fact that another individual -- who had also faced prosecution in connection with the events in Guatemala -- was acquitted in Austria."
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026
If millions are wagered on the belief that a defendant will be acquitted, could that make a jury more reluctant to convict?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
The Texas Senate ultimately acquitted him on the impeachment charges.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
“They acquitted themselves well,” coach Jim Harbaugh said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Then very quickly and still in a very loud voice she said yes, that I would be acquitted and that we would go swimming again.
From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
Observers say the jury’s 10-2 vote in favor of acquitting Jonathan Rinderknecht was a major blow to Essayli’s office.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
Middleton was reportedly one of several senators considering voting to convict Paxton, although he ultimately joined the majority in acquitting him.
From Salon ● May 23, 2026
Garcia's opportunities have been limited this season despite acquitting himself well in the United States and he proved himself again.
From Barron's ● Jan. 4, 2026
Anyway, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty, acquitting Sandwich Guy of all charges.
From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2025
Mr. Binney embarked on his second term at Cambridge with the full intention of acquitting himself with credit and freeing his character from the suspicion of unruliness which had unfortunately become attached to it.
From Peter Binney A Novel by Archibald Marshall
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
