acquit

verb

ac·​quit ə-ˈkwit 

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

Synonyms

• absolve
• clear
• exculpate
• exonerate
• vindicate

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

The lede reads: Daniel Penny, a former Marine who choked a fellow subway rider on an uptown F train last year, was acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent ... —Becket Adams, National Review, 15 Dec. 2024

Vice President-elect JD Vance invited Daniel Penny, a military veteran who was acquitted of homicide this week after choking a New York subway rider, to the Army-Navy game on Saturday. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

After he was acquitted of his parents' murders, his sister, Kelly Nieto, became his legal guardian. —Kristine Phillips, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2024

Although Penny was acquitted this week, he could still be held financially liable for his role in Neely’s death. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing acquit

• acquit oneself

Kids Definition

acquit

verb

ac·​quit ə-ˈkwit 

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 

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)