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.
to institute legal proceedings (against)
to make suppliant requests of (someone for something)
archaic to pay court (to)
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English suen, siwen, from Old French sivre, from unattested Vulgar Latin sequere “to follow,” for Latin sequī
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.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sue Kohl, a resident of the Palisades who lost her home in the fire, said the areas burned by the fire are “blanketed” with Park yard signs.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
They will call her Sue Paye which roughly translates as "fulfilled wish".
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
My husband and I arrange to collect my grandparents Sue and Ed from their apartment just south of Sunset Boulevard, which marks the boundary of the current evacuation area.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
One time, when my Aunt Sue came to visit from Baltimore, she made hers with a jar of mushroom-flavored Prego, and I thought that upgrade was as divine as Bette Midler.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
Burning branches and tree limbs filled the road, and Akira and Sue tripped and stumbled as they ran.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
