Word
sue
Phoneticssue
/ˈsu/
Definitions
01to take legal action
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law
v. to start a legal case against a person or company because they did something wrong or caused you harm.
v. to institute legal proceedings against a person or institution, typically in a civil court, to seek a remedy or compensation.
“The customer decided to sue the company after their product caused a fire.”
“The environmental group threatened to sue the local government if the proposed construction project proceeded without a proper impact study.”
Synonyms
02to beg or request
C1 · Advanced Formal · Literary
v. to ask for something very strongly or formally, like asking for peace.
v. to make an earnest petition or application; most common in the fixed phrase 'to sue for peace'.
“After months of fighting, the small nation was forced to sue for peace.”
“Defeated on all fronts, the general sent an envoy to the enemy camp to sue for a temporary ceasefire.”
03to leave high and dry
C2 · Proficiency Sports Technical
v. to leave a boat stuck on the shore when the tide goes out.
v. to leave a vessel high and dry on the shore, especially during a falling tide.
“The sailors had to sue the boat on the beach to repair the hull.”
“The captain was forced to sue the vessel on a sandy bank to prevent it from sinking after the collision.”
04a person's name
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a short form of the female name Susan.
n. a diminutive form of the female given name Susan.
“My aunt's name is Susan, but everyone calls her Sue.”
“Sue was appointed as the lead researcher due to her extensive experience in molecular biology.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sue” in context.
Verb
01. sue for breach of contract
“The firm was sued for breach of contract when they failed to deliver the software on the agreed date.”
verb + prep + noun + of + noun
02. sue for damages
“The victim decided to sue for damages to cover the medical expenses incurred after the accident.”
verb + prep + noun
03. sue for libel
“The actor sued the tabloid for libel after they published a series of false allegations about his private life.”
verb + prep + noun
04. threaten to sue
“The customer threatened to sue the company after they refused to issue a refund for the faulty product.”
verb + infinitive
Adverb
05. successfully sue the corporation
“The environmental group successfully sued the corporation for polluting the local river.”
adv + verb + noun
06. wrongfully sue a competitor
“The judge ruled that the plaintiff had wrongfully sued a competitor to stifle market competition.”
adv + verb + noun
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason or the damages sought.
Pitfall
He sued against the company
He sued the company
Sue is a transitive verb and takes the person or organization as a direct object without a preposition.
Real-World Examples
“Hollywood actress and singer Selena Gomez is being sued by five investors who backed Wondermind Global, a mental health business she founded with her mother.” “But Joyce Beatty , a Democratic US representative of Ohio who sits on the board, sued over the decision.” Etymology
Clipping.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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