acquit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
-
(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)
Related Words
See absolve.
Other Word Forms
- acquitter noun
- preacquit verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of acquit
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
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.
He was freed on bail and fled abroad, and was later acquitted on appeal after Hasina was ousted.
From Barron's
For 16 years, she fought a legal battle to bring her perpetrators to justice before a trial court acquitted them in December.
From BBC
On the morning of the attack, Esan watched a documentary about Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of two killings and wounding a man in the US, the court heard.
From BBC
Even if acquitted, she will face significant legal bills to defend her speech.
He was chased down as a fugitive aboard a Turkish steamer, returned to the U.S. for trial—and acquitted.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
