Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense sues, present participle suing, past tense, past participle sued
verb
If you sue someone, you start a legal case against them, usually in order to claim money from them because they have harmed you in some way.
She sued him for libel over the remarks. [VERB noun + for]
The company could be sued for damages. [VERB noun for noun]
One former patient has already indicated his intention to sue. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: take (someone) to court, prosecute, bring an action against (someone), charge More Synonyms of sue
More Synonyms of sue
sue in British English
(sjuː, suː)
verbWord forms: sues, suing or sued
1.
to institute legal proceedings (against)
2.
to make suppliant requests of (someone for something)
3. archaic
to pay court (to)
Derived forms
suer (ˈsuer)
noun
Word origin
C13: via Anglo-Norman from Old French sivre, from Latin sequī to follow
Sue in British English
(French sy)
noun
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
sue in American English
(su)
verb transitiveWord forms: sued or ˈsuing
1.
to appeal to; petition; beseech
2. Archaic
to be a suitor of; woo
3. Law
a.
to petition (a court) for legal redress
b.
to bring civil action against or prosecute in a court of law in seeking justice or redress of wrongs
c.
to carry (an action) through to its final decision
verb intransitive
4.
to make an appeal; petition; plead (for or to)
5. Archaic
to pay suit; woo
6.
to institute legal proceedings in court; bring suit
SIMILAR WORDS: apˈpeal
Idioms:
sue out
Derived forms
suer (ˈsuer)
noun
Word origin
ME suen < OFr sivre, suir < VL *sequere, for L sequi, to follow: see sequent
Examples of 'sue' in a sentence
sue
She insists her employers are unconcerned that she is apparently about to be sued for libel.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Her mother branded the story lies and sued for libel.
The Sun (2012)
One specialist in suing lawyers maintains that his casebook has doubled in the past year.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
One manager was sued for handing out job applications for his prospective employer during an office party.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
At least one family has already begun suing mine bosses and government inspectors for criminal negligence.
The Sun (2010)
Individuals can be taken the civil court and sued if have knowingly sold a with altered mileage.
The Sun (2016)
How you work out which court to sue in would be a nightmare.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Bishops have gone to court to sue each other over claims to property and funding.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The woman then sued the insurance company to collect the settlement amount.
Christianity Today (2000)
The company is suing her over unpaid legal bills.
The Sun (2008)
He is now suing for libel.
The Sun (2009)
In 1994 they sued for libel but lost.
The Sun (2013)
He is suing for libel, harassment and breach of privacy.
The Sun (2006)
There may also be a case for suing the British government.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The drinks companies would sue them in court and they'd win.
The Sun (2012)
I sued them for libel and breach of privacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Would this potential recruit, management supposedly wanted to know, be the sort who might sue the company?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Despite signing a consent agreement waiving their right to bring legal action over the film, they are now suing for libelover the way they were depicted.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They would have done that to dispel any chance of the victims' families claiming compensation and suing the American government for millions.
The Sun (2007)
He moved to Britain for treatment and began suing through UK courts.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
sue
British English: sue /sjuː; suː/ VERB
If you sue someone, you start a legal case against them to claim money from them because they have harmed you in some way.
She threatened to sue him for unfair dismissal.
If I were her, I'd sue.
American English: sue
Arabic: يُقاَضِي
Brazilian Portuguese: processar juridicamente
Chinese: 起诉
Croatian: tužiti
Czech: zažalovat
Danish: sagsøge
Dutch: gerechtelijk vervolgen
European Spanish: demandar
Finnish: haastaa oikeuteen
French: poursuivre procès
German: verklagen
Greek: μηνύω
Italian: fare causa
Japanese: 訴える
Korean: 소송을 제기하다
Norwegian: saksøke
Polish: pozwać
European Portuguese: processar juridicamente
Romanian: a da in judecată
Russian: преследовать в судебном порядке
Latin American Spanish: demandar
Swedish: stämma juridik
Thai: ฟ้องร้อง
Turkish: dava etmek
Ukrainian: позивати(ся)
Vietnamese: kiện tụng
Chinese translation of 'sue'
sue
(suː)
vt
起诉(訴) (qǐsù)
vi
提起诉(訴)讼(訟) (tíqǐ sùsòng)
to sue sb for damages起诉某人要求赔(賠)偿(償) (qǐsù mǒurén yāoqiú péicháng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to start legal proceedings (against)
The company could be sued for damages.
Synonyms
take (someone) to court
prosecute
The police have decided not to prosecute him.
bring an action against (someone)
charge
They have all the evidence required to charge him.
summon
indict
She was later indicted on corruption charges.
have the law on (someone) (informal)
prefer charges against (someone)
institute legal proceedings against (someone)
2 (verb)
He realized that suing for peace was the only option.
Synonyms
appeal for
plead
He was kneeling on the floor pleading for mercy.
beg
I begged him to come back to England with me.
petition
She is petitioning to regain ownership of the business.
solicit
She was soliciting a donation from a rich tycoon.
beseech
She beseeched him to take more exercise.
entreat
They entreated the audience to stay calm.
supplicate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beg
Definition
to ask formally, humbly, or earnestly
I begged him to come back to England with me.
Synonyms
implore,
plead with,
beseech,
desire (formal),
request,
pray,
petition,
conjure (formal),
crave (informal),
solicit,
entreat,
importune (formal),
supplicate,
go on bended knee to
in the sense of beseech
Definition
to ask earnestly
She beseeched him to take more exercise.
Synonyms
beg,
ask,
petition,
call upon,
plead with,
solicit,
implore,
entreat,
importune (formal),
adjure,
supplicate,
pray
in the sense of charge
Definition
to accuse (someone) formally of a crime in a court of law
They have all the evidence required to charge him.
Synonyms
accuse,
indict,
impeach,
incriminate,
arraign
Synonyms of 'sue'
sue
Explore 'sue' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of entreat
Definition
to ask (someone) earnestly to do something
They entreated the audience to stay calm.
Synonyms
beg,
ask,
appeal to,
petition,
pray to,
conjure (formal),
request,
plead with,
exhort (formal),
implore,
enjoin,
beseech,
importune (formal),
ask earnestly,
supplicate
in the sense of indict
Definition
to charge (a person) formally with a crime, esp. in writing
She was later indicted on corruption charges.
Synonyms
charge,
accuse,
prosecute,
summon,
impeach,
arraign,
serve with a summons,
summons
in the sense of petition
Definition
to address or present a petition to (a government or to someone in authority)
She is petitioning to regain ownership of the business.