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acquit

[ uh-kwit ]
/ əˈkwɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR acquit ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ac·quit·ted, ac·quit·ting.

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.
to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.
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.

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WATCH NOW: What Does "Acquit" Actually Mean?

Armchair lawyers and judges will remember this phrase from the 90s: If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit! But, what does "acquit" actually mean?

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Origin of acquit

1200–50; Middle English aquiten < Anglo-French, Old French a(c)quiter, derivative, with a(c)- ac-, of quite free of obligations < Medieval Latin quit(t)us, Latin quiētus quiet1; cf. quit1

synonym study for acquit

1. See absolve.

OTHER WORDS FROM acquit

ac·quit·ter, nounpre·ac·quit, verb (used with object), pre·ac·quit·ted, pre·ac·quit·ting.un·ac·quit·ted, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH acquit

acquitted innocent nolo contendere (see synonym study at innocent)

Words nearby acquit

acquirement, acquis communautaire, acquisition, acquisition accounting, acquisitive, acquit, acquittal, acquittance, acr-, acral, acraldehyde
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to acquit

vindicate, clear, absolve, free, discharge, exonerate, exculpate, relieve, whitewash, deliver, excuse, release, liberate, perform, conduct, comport, bear, act, carry, deport

Example sentences from the Web for acquit

British Dictionary definitions for acquit

acquit
/ (əˈkwɪt) /

verb -quits, -quitting or -quitted (tr)

(foll by of)
  1. to free or release (from a charge of crime)
  2. 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)

Derived forms of acquit

acquitter, noun

Word Origin for acquit

C13: from Old French aquiter, from quiter to release, free from, quit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012