acquit

/əˈkwɪt/

/æˈkwɪt/

Other forms: acquitted; acquitting; acquits

To acquit someone is to clear them of charges. Acquitting also has to do with how you carry or present yourself.

If you're accused of a crime, then the best thing that can happen to you is being acquitted — that means you were cleared or exonerated of the charges. A defense lawyer wants to have his client acquitted. But watch out for another unrelated meaning: acquitting can mean how you behave, conduct, or carry yourself. If you acquit yourself like a champion, then you're acting like a champion.

Definitions of acquit

1. verb

   pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
   synonyms: assoil, clear, discharge, exculpate, exonerate

   antonyms:

   convict

   find or declare guilty

   types:

   vindicate

   clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof

   whitewash

   exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data

   purge

   clear of a charge

   type of:

   judge, label, pronounce

   pronounce judgment on
2. verb

   behave in a certain manner
   synonyms: bear, behave, carry, comport, conduct, deport

   types:

   fluster

   be flustered; behave in a confused manner

   assert, put forward

   insist on having one's opinions and rights recognized

   deal

   behave in a certain way towards others

   walk around

   behave in a certain manner or have certain properties

   pose, posture

   behave affectedly or unnaturally in order to impress others

   attitudinise, attitudinize

   assume certain affected attitudes

   type of:

   bear, carry, hold

   support or hold in a certain manner

   act, move

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)