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• sue
  sue

  verb (used with object)

  to institute a process in law against; bring a civil action against.
• Sue
  Sue

  noun

  Eugène Marie Joseph Sue, 1804–57, French novelist.

sue

¹ American  

[soo] / su /

verb (used with object)

sues, present (3rd person singular) sued, past participle, past suing present participle

1. to institute a process in law against; bring a civil action against.

   to sue someone for damages.

2. to woo or court.

3. Obsolete. to make petition or appeal to.

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verb (used without object)

sues, present (3rd person singular) sued, past participle, past suing present participle

1. to institute legal proceedings, or bring suit.

   She threatened to sue.

2. to make petition or appeal.

   to sue for peace.

   Synonyms:

   pray, plead, petition, beg

3. to court a woman.

verb phrase

1. sue out to make application for or apply for and obtain (a writ or the like) from a court of law.

Sue ² American  

[soo, sy] / su, sü /

noun

1. Eugène Marie Joseph Sue, 1804–57, French novelist.

2. a female given name, form of Susan, Susanna, Susannah.

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sue ¹ British  

/ suː, sjuː /

verb

1. to institute legal proceedings (against)

2. to make suppliant requests of (someone for something)

3. archaic to pay court (to)

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Sue ² British  

/ sy /

noun

1. Eugène (øʒɛn). original name Marie-Joseph Sue. 1804–57, French novelist, whose works, notably Les mystères de Paris (1842–43) and Le juif errant (1844–45), were among the first to reflect the impact of the industrial revolution on France

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unsued
  adjective
• suer
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have sued
  perfect
• has sued
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been suing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am suing
  progressive 1st person singular
• are suing
  progressive
• suing
  participle
• sues
  singular 3rd person
• is suing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been suing
  perfect progressive

Past

• had sued
  perfect
• had been suing
  perfect progressive
• was suing
  progressive singular
• sued
  simple
• were suing
  progressive plural
• sued
  participle

Future

• will sue
  simple
• will have sued
  perfect
• will be suing
  progressive
• will have been suing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sue

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English suen, siwen, from Old French sivre, from unattested Vulgar Latin sequere “to follow,” for Latin sequī

Explanation

If you sue someone, you're accusing them (in court) of doing something wrong or illegal and demanding that they pay for it. Almost every time someone sues, they're looking for money. One of the last things you want to hear is "I'll sue you!" People sue for a lot of reasons. If you slipped on the ice, you could sue the sidewalk owner for not putting salt down. If you were in a car accident, you could sue the other driver. Years ago, someone sued McDonald's for scalding themselves on a cup of coffee they said was too hot. Sometimes it seems like people will find any reason to sue.

Example Sentences

Edison has offered to compensate victims of the fire who give up their right to sue the utility.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Sullivan said he planned to sue the BBC.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

How else to explain the news that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier just made his state the first to sue OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Altman won that battle with a jury rejecting Musk’s claims, partly because Musk waited too long to sue.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

“I showed my dad ReelTok screaming about Chokecherry, and now the chamber of commerce is threatening to sue him. Let’s get out there.”

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• accuse
• appeal
• charge
• claim
• file
• indict
• petition
• plead
• prosecute