sued; suing
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
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
William Wordsworth
suer
noun
Synonyms
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
Williams’ survivors, including a child, are suing Suncor, Honeywell, HPC Industrial Services and United Rentals for negligence.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
If approved, the payout would be less than an $880 million settlement reached last month between the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and more than 1,350 people who sued church leaders in Southern California.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
The decision was a blow to Democrats after the Democratic National Committee, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the American Civil Liberties Union had sued to allow a portion of voters who received their absentee ballots late to be able to cast their votes after Election Day.
—Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
However, since TikTok sued the federal government to appeal the ban, the case is currently being decided by the Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
—Zeyi Yang, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sue 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
If approved, the payout would be less than an $880 million settlement reached last month between the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and more than 1,350 people who sued church leaders in Southern California.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
The decision was a blow to Democrats after the Democratic National Committee, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the American Civil Liberties Union had sued to allow a portion of voters who received their absentee ballots late to be able to cast their votes after Election Day.
—Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
However, since TikTok sued the federal government to appeal the ban, the case is currently being decided by the Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
—Zeyi Yang, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sue
Dictionary Entries Near sue
Cite this Entry
“Sue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sue. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Biographical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share