sue

verb

ˈsü 

sued; suing

transitive verb

1

a

: to seek justice or right from (a person) by legal process

specifically : to bring an action against

b

: to proceed with and follow up (a legal action) to proper termination

2

archaic : to pay court or suit to : woo

3

obsolete : to make petition to or for

intransitive verb

1

: to take legal proceedings in court

2

: to make a request or application : plead

—usually used with for or to

sue for peace

3

: to pay court : woo

he loved … but sued in vain

—William Wordsworth

suer noun

Synonyms

• ask (for)
• bespeak
• call (for)
• desire
• plead (for)
• quest
• request
• seek
• solicit
• speak (for)

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

California is suing Big Oil, accusing them of climate change ‘deception’ California is no stranger to fighting climate change with legal battles. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023

The city’s planning and zoning board approved a site plan for the temple and then later rescinded its approval in July, prompting attorneys for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to sue in a Wyoming district court, arguing that the panel violated its own rules. —Scott D. Pierce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023

The company sued the advocacy group, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, last month. —Elizabeth Dwoskin, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023

An obscure Republican presidential candidate, John Anthony Castro, is suing separately with the same aim in New Hampshire, and the liberal group Free Speech for People urged several secretaries of state last month to exclude Trump. —Maggie Astor, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023

Hunter Biden’s friend and benefactor Kevin Morris has also sued Ziegler, accusing him of harassment and doxing. —Meryl Kornfield, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Sep. 2023

Last November, Wilson’s attorney filed a notice of claim against the city, indicating the intention to sue for wrongful termination. —Audra D. S. Burch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2023

The family of a man fatally shot in New Mexico by police officers responding to the wrong house sued the department for wrongful death and other claims in federal court, according to a complaint filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court of New Mexico. —Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023

California is one of the many states that sued Google over its location tracking feature. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 15 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

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, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing sue

• counter-sue
• sue for divorce
• sue for damages
• sue for peace

• counter-sue
• sue for divorce
• sue for damages
• sue for peace

Kids Definition

sue

verb

ˈsü 

sued; suing

1

: to seek justice from a person by bringing a legal action

2

: to make a request or application : plead

—usually used with for or to

the weaker nation sued for peace

suer noun

Legal Definition

sue

verb

sued; suing

transitive verb

: to bring an action against : seek justice from by legal process

intransitive verb

: to bring an action in court

Etymology

Anglo-French suer suire, literally, to follow, pursue, from Old French sivre, ultimately from Latin sequi to follow

Biographical Definition

Sue

biographical name

ˈsü 

ˈsᵫ

Eugène 1804–1857 originally Marie-Joseph Sue French novelist