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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

Sullivan said he planned to sue the BBC.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

The town’s elected board of commissioners suspended Boaz and later fired him, prompting him to sue the town.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

McKinney told The Times he would “absolutely” sue Airbnb if necessary in office.

From Los Angeles Times • 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

“Mr. Reilly, this man wants to sue for $500 thousand. That could ruin me.”

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Related Words

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