To acquit someone means to officially declare them not guilty of a crime they were accused of. When a jury acquits a defendant in court, they've examined all the evidence and decided the person didn't commit the crime, or at least that there wasn't enough proof to convict them.

The word comes from courtrooms and legal proceedings. Imagine someone stands trial for stealing a valuable painting, but the evidence shows they were actually in another state when the theft happened. The jury would acquit them because the facts prove they couldn't have done it. Being acquitted is different from having charges dropped: acquittal happens after a full trial, when the court formally says “not guilty.”

You might also hear someone say a person acquitted themselves well, which means something completely different. It means they performed admirably or handled a difficult situation with skill. If your friend gives a nervous presentation but does a great job despite their worries, you could say they acquitted themselves well. It's like saying they cleared themselves of any doubt about their abilities.

The opposite of acquit is convict, which means to find someone guilty of a crime.