sue

[ soo ]
See synonyms for sue on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),sued, su·ing.
  1. to institute a process in law against; bring a civil action against: to sue someone for damages.

  2. to woo or court.

  1. Obsolete. to make petition or appeal to.

verb (used without object),sued, su·ing.
  1. to institute legal proceedings, or bring suit: She threatened to sue.

  2. to make petition or appeal: to sue for peace.

  1. to court a woman.

Verb Phrases
  1. sue out, to make application for or apply for and obtain (a writ or the like) from a court of law.

Origin of sue

1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English suen, siwen, from Old French sivre, from unattested Vulgar Latin sequere “to follow,” for Latin sequī

Other words for sue

Other words from sue

  • su·er, noun
  • un·sued, adjective

Words Nearby sue

Other definitions for Sue (2 of 2)

Sue
[ soo; French sy ]

noun
  1. Eu·gène [œ-zhen], /œˈʒɛn/, Marie Joseph Sue, 1804–57, French novelist.

  2. a female given name, form of Susan, Susanna, Susannah.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sue in a sentence

  • He gave his mother several groups in stone for the dining-room; they are all funny, sue says.

    Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater
  • In many states statutes exist defining their right to sue and be sued, and their liability to creditors.

  • sue Greyson is to accompany my mother; I shall be much away, and I do not like to leave her with strangers.

    Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater
  • He can do another thing, accept the stock and sue for the damage he has sustained by the deceit that has been practiced on him.

  • I know that you will say I regret exceedingly, Miss sue, that you have misinterpreted my friendly attentions.

    Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater

British Dictionary definitions for sue (1 of 2)

sue

/ (sjuː, suː) /


verbsues, suing or sued
  1. to institute legal proceedings (against)

  2. to make suppliant requests of (someone for something)

  1. archaic to pay court (to)

Origin of sue

1
C13: via Anglo-Norman from Old French sivre, from Latin sequī to follow

Derived forms of sue

  • suer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Sue (2 of 2)

Sue

/ (French 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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012