acquit
gb/əkwˈɪt/ us/əkwˈɪt/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
legal
C1
action
1
judge not guilty
If a court acquits someone, it says that person is not guilty.
Usage pattern:
[court/jury/judge] acquits [someone] of [crime/charge]; [someone] is acquitted of [crime/charge]
Common mistake:
Use acquit someone of a crime or charge, not usually “acquit someone from a crime.” Acquitting someone is a legal decision, not simply letting them leave prison.
Synonyms
clear (More general; can mean remove suspicion, not only in court.)
|
exonerate (Often means officially prove someone was not responsible or guilty.)
|
absolve (More formal; often moral, religious, or legal.)
Antonyms
convict (To decide officially in court that someone is guilty.)
|
find guilty (Direct opposite legal decision.)
Collocations
be acquitted of murder
|be acquitted of all charges
|the jury acquitted him
|the court acquitted her
|acquit the defendant
|acquit someone on a charge
|be unanimously acquitted
|be formally acquitted
|acquitted for lack of evidence
|found not guilty and acquitted
Themes
law
|crime
|courts
|justice
Examples
- The jury acquitted him of murder after a six-week trial.
- She was acquitted of all charges because there was not enough evidence.
- A federal court acquitted the former official on the corruption charge.
Learner examples
- The judge acquitted the man.
- She was acquitted of theft.
Verb
formal
C2
action
2
perform or conduct oneself
To behave or perform in a particular way, especially well, in a difficult situation.
Usage pattern:
acquit oneself [well/admirably/poorly]
Common mistake:
This meaning is formal and reflexive: say “She acquitted herself well,” not usually “She acquitted well.”
Synonyms
perform (More common and neutral; does not imply self-conduct.)
|
conduct oneself (Very close, but focuses more on behavior than performance.)
|
distinguish oneself (Means perform especially well or gain recognition.)
Antonyms
perform badly (Opposite when referring to how someone does in a task.)
|
disgrace oneself (Opposite when referring to conduct that brings shame.)
Collocations
acquit oneself well
|acquit oneself admirably
|acquit oneself honorably
|acquit oneself poorly
|acquit oneself in debate
|acquit oneself under pressure
Themes
behavior
|performance
|public_life
Examples
- Despite her lack of experience, she acquitted herself well in the debate.
- The young goalkeeper acquitted himself admirably under intense pressure.
- He acquitted himself honorably during a very difficult investigation.
Learner examples
- She acquitted herself well in the interview.
- The team acquitted itself well.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acquit
IPA
GB/əkwˈɪt/
US/əkwˈɪt/
Syllables & stress
ac - quit (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (quit)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: acquit
- 3rd Person Singular: acquits
- Present Participle: acquitting
- Past: acquitted
- Past Participle: acquitted
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.