acquit

verb

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

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

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Paxton was later acquitted of the allegations by the Texas Senate in a vote that was mostly along party lines and Paul was never called to testify. —John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Nov. 2024 It was last invoked in 1992 during riots in Los Angeles after police officers were acquitted for the beating of Rodney King. —Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024 Earlier this year, he was sued by actress Charlotte Lewis on allegations of defamation, and was acquitted in a French court. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2024 Combs was put on trial in 2001 for the shooting but was acquitted by a jury, the New York Post reported. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for acquit 

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

Phrases Containing acquit

Dictionary Entries Near acquit

acquist

acquit

acquitment

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Acquit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquit. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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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 misrepresentation—In re Hiller, 694 P.2d 540 (1985)

intransitive verb

: to absolve a defendant of criminal liability
must acquit if any reasonable doubt existed—Commonwealth 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)

More from Merriam-Webster on acquit

Nglish: Translation of acquit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of acquit for Arabic Speakers

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