sue
verb (used with object)
to institute a process in law against; bring a civil action against.
sue
1 American
[soo]
/ su /
verb (used with object)
-
sues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sued,
past participle, past
-
suing
present participle
-
to institute a process in law against; bring a civil action against.
to sue someone for damages.
-
to woo or court.
-
Obsolete. to make petition or appeal to.
verb (used without object)
-
sues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sued,
past participle, past
-
suing
present participle
verb phrase
sue
1
British
/ suː, sjuː /
verb
-
to institute legal proceedings (against)
-
to make suppliant requests of (someone for something)
-
archaic to pay court (to)
Sue
2
British
/ sy /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
suesimple
-
suessimple
-
have suedperfect
-
has suedperfect
-
am suingprogressive
-
are suingprogressive
-
is suingprogressive
-
have been suingperfect progressive
-
has been suingperfect progressive
Past
-
suedsimple
-
had suedperfect
-
was suingprogressive
-
were suingprogressive
-
had been suingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing sue
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.
See Examples For:
They pointed out that if the amount of water flowing into Lake Mead decreases further, it will trigger the state’s right to sue its upriver neighbors for a violation of the compact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The paper adds that the monarch has "appeared keen to distance himself from his brother's decision to sue the police", which could costs hundreds of thousands of pounds.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Justice Thomas continued: “So you could just as easily sue large retailers of these products?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
The petition ostensibly focuses on the procedural issue of the parents’ standing to sue.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026
In this exceedingly slippery situation, citizens who suffered direct financial loss from damage to apple orchards or bees discovered that there was no one to sue.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Appeared in the October 13, 2026, print edition as 'Annuity Buyers Sue Walter Insurance Companies'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Sue Crosby and her husband booked on Isla, with the holiday starting on 14 September - her 70th birthday.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Bakker is survived by his wife and two children, Tammy Sue and Jamie, known as Jay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
John Ridilla and Sue Seeling-Ridilla, in Charlotte, N.C., are among those who see opportunity in the bond market these days.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Sue’s dad slid off the horse and went to help Sue dismount from Elwood.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
The bill also would ensure that anyone who sues over the fire doesn’t have to pay state taxes on any settlement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
Plus: Disney sues FCC over license review, and Europe’s rivers are drying up, threatening its economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Even if the regime sues for peace, the U.S. may need an ongoing military commitment to ensure it complies with the terms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026
Florida man sues Outback Steakhouse after toilet collapse.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 29, 2025
If Ziggy isn’t found, what if Mae sues us?
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
“As attorney general, I’ve sued some of the largest companies in the world … for taking advantage of our kids by exposing them to dangerous, addictive material,” Paxton said after defeating Cornyn in May.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
Ali sued GB News presenter Alex Armstrong and social media commentator Bernadette Spofforth for defamation over posts on X. Both have apologised and agreed to pay "substantial damages".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Gen. Rob Bonta sued the Sheriff’s Department over what he called “unsafe and unconstitutional conditions” inside county lockups.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
She sued to block her firing and has said she never committed mortgage fraud.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
“He-” “Hey. I can’t afford to get sued, okay? Neither can you. If we have to hire a lawyer, we’re out on the street. C’mon, man. Use your head.”
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
In a major suit filed this week, a 26-year-old Texas woman using the pseudonym Maria Puerto is suing under H.B.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
Pakistani farmers are suing two companies in Germany, including a cement manufacturer.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Jamie Mejarus, the civil attorney representing five surrogates suing Xuan and Zhang for fraud, has alleged in court filings that the couple also presented an attorney of their choosing to the mothers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
The justices will decide whether a participant suing over underperformance has to identify a “meaningful benchmark”—a comparable investment—before the case can proceed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
By the time Cofield contacted the Lackses about suing Hopkins, he’d been banned from filing lawsuits in at least two counties.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
