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Synonyms

sue

1 American  
[soo] / su /

verb (used with object)

sued, suing

  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.

verb (used without object)

sued, suing

  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.

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)

"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
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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • suer noun
  • unsued adjective

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Taxpayers can typically sue after the government acts, so they can seek refunds or challenge the government if it denies a request for tax-exempt status.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Could a patient sue a doctor who counsels against the measles vaccine in the midst of an outbreak?

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Environmental groups tried to sue to stop the vote, claiming it could push some species like the Rice's Whale into extinction - only 51 remain in the wild.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

CBS News, which interviewed Leon Rengel, said he is the first member of the deported group of Venezuelans to sue the United States for damages.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

“Maybe Mandy will see it this time, and she can sue the Mosses.”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.