# sue

/ˈsu/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sue
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to take legal action

verb · CEFR B2

to start a legal case against a person or company because they did something wrong or caused you harm.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the party being sued.

### 2. to beg or request

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

to ask for something very strongly or formally, like asking for peace.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'for'.

### 3. to leave high and dry

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to leave a boat stuck on the shore when the tide goes out.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized nautical term; learners will rarely encounter it outside of sailing manuals or maritime history.

### 4. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a short form of the female name Susan.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He decided to sue the company for his injuries.
- After the driver crashed into her fence and refused to pay for repairs, she had no choice but to sue him in small claims court.
- The environmental group threatened to sue the local government if the proposed development plan failed to account for the protection of endangered wetlands and local biodiversity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.