acquit

verb

ac·​quit ə-ˈkwit How to pronounce acquit (audio)
acquitted; acquitting

transitive verb

1
: to discharge completely (as from an accusation or obligation)
The court acquitted the prisoner.
2
: to conduct (oneself) usually satisfactorily especially under stress
The recruits acquitted themselves like veterans.
3
a
archaic : to pay off (something, such as a claim or debt)
b
obsolete : repay, requite
acquitter noun
Choose the Right Synonym for acquit

behave, conduct, deport, comport, acquit mean to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way.

behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

exculpate, absolve, exonerate, acquit, vindicate mean to free from a charge.

exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

absolve implies a release either from an obligation that binds the conscience or from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin.

cannot be absolved of blame

exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

exonerated by the investigation

acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

voted to acquit the defendant

vindicate may refer to things as well as persons that have been subjected to critical attack or imputation of guilt, weakness, or folly, and implies a clearing effected by proving the unfairness of such criticism or blame.

her judgment was vindicated

Examples of acquit in a Sentence

The jury acquitted the defendant because there wasn't enough evidence to convict him of the crime. acquitted of the robbery charge after proving he was nowhere near the scene of the crime
Recent Examples on the Web They were all acquitted in a 1921 trial but were banned for life from professional baseball by then-commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Jacob Lev, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 And Papen, who had ushered Hitler directly into power, was acquitted at Nuremberg; in the nineteen-fifties, he was awarded the highest honorary order of the Catholic Church. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 He was later acquitted on five charges, including intentional homicide. The Courier-Journal, 18 Mar. 2024 But Jackson always denied them — including during his monthslong criminal trial in 2005 for child molestation and intoxicating a minor, for which he was acquitted. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 If he's acquitted, that would also be noteworthy given his wife's conviction. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 Knox was twice acquitted on the murder charges after the death of her study abroad roommate in Italy in 2007 and has long maintained her innocence. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 For months later, the Texas Senate voted to acquit Paxton, ending his suspension from office. USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 While he was acquitted after a two week trial in the Senate, Paxton is still facing a criminal securities fraud case, which is set to go to trial in mid-April. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acquit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aquiten, borrowed from Anglo-French aquiter, from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -quiter, verbal derivative of quite "free, discharged" — more at quit entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of acquit was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near acquit

Cite this Entry

“Acquit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquit. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

acquit

verb
ac·​quit ə-ˈkwit How to pronounce acquit (audio)
acquitted; acquitting
1
: to declare innocent of a crime or wrongdoing
2
: to conduct (oneself) usually satisfactorily

Legal Definition

acquit

verb
ac·​quit ə-ˈkwit How to pronounce acquit (audio)
acquitted; acquitting

transitive verb

: to discharge completely: as
a
: to release from liability for a debt or other obligation
usually used in agreements
forever release, acquit, and discharge each other
b
: to absolve (a criminal defendant) of a charge by judicial process
c
: to clear of wrongdoing
the fact…does not acquit them of misrepresentationIn re Hiller, 694 P.2d 540 (1985)

intransitive verb

: to absolve a defendant of criminal liability
must acquit if any reasonable doubt existedCommonwealth v. Gagliardi, 638 N.E.2d 20 (1994)
compare convict
Etymology

Old French acquiter to pay off, absolve, acquit, from a-, prefix marking causation + quite free (of an obligation)

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