acquit

[ uh-kwit ]

/ əˈkwɪt /

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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.

Nearby words

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

SYNONYMS FOR acquit

1. exculpate. 2. free.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR acquit ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR acquit

1. convict.

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

Can be confusedacquitted innocent nolo contendere (see synonym study at innocent)

Synonym study

1. See absolve.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for acquitted

Of course, this does not mean that Elonis will be acquitted.
Does Free Speech Cover Murder Fantasies? The Supreme Court’s Definition of a ‘Threat’|Geoffrey R. Stone|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury found that the evidence was insufficient and acquitted Lizzie.
Would You Stay in Lizzie Borden’s Ax-Murder House?|Nina Strochlic|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The woman was acquitted of perjury, which could have landed the mother of three 15 years in jail.
The Democrats' Katherine Harris Strategy|Patricia Murphy|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was arrested, tried and, thanks to a technicality, acquitted.
Nigeria’s Larger-Than-Life Nobel Laureate Chronicles a Fascinating Life|Chimamanda Adichie|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Their trial had lasted nine months and they were acquitted in two hours,” he wrote.
Tupac and Murray Kempton: The Godfather Who Wore Tweed|Michael Daly|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She had left the Assize Court acquitted, declared to be innocent, amid the applause of the crowd.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume VIII.|Guy de Maupassant
If his innocence were not made evident to everybody, he would rather not be acquitted on a preliminary examination.
The Hoosier Schoolmaster|Edward Eggleston
Had he obtained the Royal Mercy or been acquitted, the day of his enlargement was to have been that of his marriage.
Historic Sites of Lancashire and Cheshire|James Croston
This judge was impeached before this body and acquitted, because not quite two-thirds of the Senate voted him guilty.
Thirty Years' View (Vol. II of 2)|Thomas Hart Benton
Julien acquitted himself becomingly of all the duty a man owes to provincial opinion.
The Red and the Black|Stendhal

British Dictionary definitions for acquitted

acquit

/ (əˈkwɪt) /

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

(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)

Derived Formsacquitter, 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

Word Origin and History for acquitted

acquitted

adj.

"freed, exonerated," 1670s, past participle adjective from acquit (v.). Formerly in this sense was acquit (late 14c.), perhaps on analogy of pps. such as hit.

acquit

early 13c., "to satisfy a debt" (either for oneself or on behalf of another), from Old French aquiter "pay, pay up, settle a claim" (12c.), from à "to" (see ad-) + quite "free, clear" (see quit (adj.)). Meanings "set free from charges" and "to discharge one's duty" both recorded from late 14c. Related: Acquitted; acquitting.