acquit

[uh-kwit]

verb (used with object)

acquitted, acquitting 

1. 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.

   Synonyms: vindicate, exonerate, exculpate
   Antonyms: convict

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

   Synonyms: free

3. to settle or satisfy (a debt, obligation, claim, etc.).

4. to bear or conduct (oneself); behave.

   He acquitted himself well in battle.

5. to free or clear (oneself).

   He acquitted himself of suspicion.

acquit

/ əˈkwɪt /

verb

1. (foll by of)

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

   2. to pronounce not guilty

2. (foll by of) to free or relieve (from an obligation, duty, responsibility, etc)

3. to repay or settle (something, such as a debt or obligation)

4. to perform (one's part); conduct (oneself)

Other Word Forms

• acquitter noun
• preacquit verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of acquit¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English aquiten, from Anglo-French, Old French (ac)quiter, derivative, with a(c)- “toward” ( ac- ), from quite “free of obligations,” from Medieval Latin quit(t)us, Latin quiētus ( quiet ); quit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of acquit¹

C13: from Old French aquiter, from quiter to release, free from, _quit

Synonym Study

See absolve.

Example Sentences

Vale and BHP were acquitted in November 2024 of criminal charges by a Brazilian court, which ruled there was insufficient evidence linking them to the dam's failure.

Read more on Barron's

A special graft court dismissed the plunder, or massive corruption, charges against Enrile last year, and last month acquitted him of the remaining graft cases against him as well.

Read more on Barron's

Days later, the US House of Representatives voted to impeach the president on a count of "incitement of insurrection" and the Senate later acquitted him.

Read more on BBC

The jury acquitted her after less than two hours of deliberations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The court subsequently acquitted him of one charge and ordered a possible retrial for another.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• absolve 
• clear 
• discharge 
• exonerate 
• free 
• let go 
• vindicate