sue

¹

[soo]

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

[soo, sy]

noun

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

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

sue

¹

/ suː, sjuː /

verb

1. to institute legal proceedings (against)

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

3. archaic,  to pay court (to)

Sue

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• suer noun
• unsued adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sue¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sue¹

C13: via Anglo-Norman from Old French sivre, from Latin sequī to follow

Example Sentences

Can Pacific Palisades residents sue the city of L.A. for a series of fire failures?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Over the years, several business partners sued James over his financing arrangements, alleging misleading and fraudulent practices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Federal prosecutors sued Southern California Edison, saying its equipment ignited the 2019 Saddle Ridge fire, which burned nearly 9,000 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 100 homes in the San Fernando Valley.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Earlier this year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law bills that make the state more business friendly, including one that makes it more difficult to sue board members at companies incorporated in Texas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The commission sued Amazon in 2023, alleging the company intentionally designed its Prime interface to sign up users without their express consent and made it far too difficult to drop the service afterward.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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