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View synonyms for

acquit

[ uh-kwit ]

verb (used with object)

acquitted, acquitting.
  1. 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.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.

    Synonyms:

  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.



acquit

/ əˈɪ /

verb

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

  • ˈܾٳٱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ܾ·ٱ noun
  • ··ܾ verb (used with object) preacquitted preacquitting
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Word History and Origins

Origin of acquit1

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English aquiten, from Anglo-French, Old French (ac)quiter, derivative, with a(c)- “toward” ( ac- ), from quite “free of obligations,” from Medieval Latin quit(t)us, Latin ܾŧٳܲ ( quiet ); quit 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of acquit1

C13: from Old French aquiter, from quiter to release, free from, quit
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Synonym Study

See absolve.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A fifth defendant was acquitted, and another suspect was fatally shot by police.

From

On Friday, lawyer Veysel Ok asked the judge to acquit them on the grounds that they were reporting on, not participating, in the protests, the AFP news agency reported.

From

The boy was charged with murder and manslaughter, but was acquitted of the more serious charge on Tuesday.

From

While in prison for other offences, Dunlop boasted to a prison guard about getting away with the killing, but he could not be prosecuted again for the same crime after being acquitted twice.

From

The late Aretha Franklin headlined in 1999 when the dinner landed shortly after Bill Clinton was acquitted in the Senate of impeachment charges against him.

From

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acquisitiveacquittal