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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)

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.

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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.

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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

• 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

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

The city tried to have the case dismissed by arguing the city can’t sue itself.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Under certain circumstances, these excluded victims and others who missed earlier filing deadlines can still sue the Sacklers directly.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

"For example, he got into two quite serious car accidents… and he didn't believe in suing. I mean, it was the other guys' fault, and he just wouldn't sue."

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Fluor Corporation allowing a former soldier to sue a defense contractor under state law.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2026

She said, “Yeah, but if you printed a lie about me, my dad would sue you— and then your computer would be my computer!”

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements

Related Words

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