acquit

UK: /əˈkwɪt/ US: /əˈkwɪt/ ,(ə kwit′)

Inflections of 'acquit' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

acquits

v 3rd person singular

acquitting

v pres p

acquitted

v past

acquitted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ac•quit /əˈkwɪt/   v., -quit•ted, -quit•ting. 

1. Law to declare not guilty of a crime or offense:
   [~ + object (+ of + object)] The jury acquitted her of all charges.
2. to conduct (oneself);
   behave:
   [~ + oneself] acquitted himself well in his first game.

See -quit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ac•quit  (ə kwit′), v.t., -quit•ted, -quit•ting. 

1. Law 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.
2. to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.
3. to settle or satisfy (a debt, obligation, claim, etc.).
4. to bear or conduct (oneself );
   behave:
   He acquitted himself well in battle.
5. to free or clear (oneself ):
   He acquitted himself of suspicion.

• Medieval Latin quit(t)us, Latin quiētus quiet¹; compare quit
• Anglo-French, Old French a(c)quiter, derivative, with a(c)- ac-, of quite free of obligations
• Middle English aquiten 1200–50

ac•quit′ter, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. exculpate. See absolve. 
• 2. free.

Antonyms

• 1. convict.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

acquit / əˈkwɪt/ verb ( -quits, -quitting, -quitted)(transitive)

1. (followed by of) to free or release (from a charge of crime)
2. to pronounce not guilty
3. (followed by of) to free or relieve (from an obligation, duty, responsibility, etc)
4. to repay or settle (something, such as a debt or obligation)
5. to perform (one's part); conduct (oneself)

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French aquiter, from quiter to release, free from, quit

acˈquitter noun