Definition of sue
sued
;suing
transitive verb
1 obsolete : to make petition to or for
2 archaic : to pay court or suit to : woo
3a : to seek justice or right from (a person) by legal process; specifically : to bring an action againstb : to proceed with and follow up (a legal action) to proper termination
intransitive verb
1 : to make a request or application : plead —usually used with for or to sue for peace
2 : to pay court : woo he loved … but sued in vain — William Wordsworth
3 : to take legal proceedings in court
suer
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of sue in a Sentence
Some people sue over the most minor things.
People injured in accidents caused by the defective tire have threatened to sue.
They've threatened to sue the company.
He is suing the doctor who performed the unnecessary surgery.
Origin and Etymology of sue
Middle English sewen, siuen to follow, strive for, petition, from Anglo-French sivre, siure, from Vulgar Latin *sequere, from Latin sequi to follow; akin to Greek hepesthai to follow, Sanskrit sacate he accompanies
First Known Use: 14th century
Sue
playDefinition of Sue
Eugène 1804–1857 originally Marie-Joseph Sue French novelist
SUE Defined for English Language Learners
sue
playDefinition of sue for English Language Learners
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: to use a legal process by which you try to get a court of law to force a person, company, or organization that has treated you unfairly or hurt you in some way to give you something or to do something : to bring a lawsuit against someone or something
SUE Defined for Kids
sue
playDefinition of sue for Students
sued
;suing
: to seek justice or right by bringing legal action
Law Dictionary
sue
Legal Definition of sue
sued
suing
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Origin and Etymology of sue
Anglo-French suer suire, literally, to follow, pursue, from Old French sivre, ultimately from Latin sequi to follow
Learn More about sue
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See words that rhyme with sue Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sue Spanish Central: Translation of sue Nglish: Translation of sue for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sue for Arabic speakers
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