Sue

verb

Base: sue | Past: sued | Past Participle: sued | -ing: suing | 3rd person: sues

Frequency

Medium-High

CEFR Level

Neutral

Domain

Law

Definition

1. To take legal action against someone, especially to claim money for harm they have caused you.
2. To formally ask for something in court.

Context Alive

The accident left him with a broken back and months of medical bills. His lawyer advised him to sue the company responsible for the faulty equipment. The case went to court and he was awarded a significant amount in damages.

Meanings

2 meanings

1 To Take Legal Action Against Someone for Money (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about going to court to get money from someone who has harmed you. Imagine a customer slipping on a wet floor in a supermarket because there was no warning sign. She breaks her arm and decides to sue the supermarket for her medical costs. This is suing — using the legal system to hold someone responsible. You might hear “he’s suing the hospital for negligence” or “they threatened to sue if the company didn’t pay compensation.” Or picture a celebrity who sues a newspaper for publishing false stories about them. The word carries a sense of seeking justice through the courts. ✏️ The most common pattern is “sue someone for something” — you sue a person or company for damages, negligence, or a specific amount of money.

Vivid Example

The neighbours had been complaining about the noise for over a year. When nothing changed, they finally decided to sue the construction company for disrupting their daily lives. The judge ruled in their favour and ordered the company to pay compensation.

2 To Formally Ask for Something in Court (Verb) Less Common ▼

This meaning is about making a formal request through the legal system — not necessarily for money. Imagine a couple whose marriage has completely broken down. One of them goes to a lawyer and sues for divorce to officially end the relationship. This is suing — formally requesting something through a court. You might read “she sued for divorce after years of separation” or in history books “the defeated army sued for peace.” Or think about a parent who sues for custody of their children after a difficult split. The word here is more formal and often appears in legal or historical writing. ✏️ “Sue for peace” means to formally ask an enemy to stop fighting — it’s mostly used in historical or military contexts, not everyday conversation.

Vivid Example

After three years of living apart, she finally contacted a lawyer. She decided to sue for divorce and start a completely new chapter in her life. The paperwork was filed the following week.

Examples from the Street

“If they don’t give me my money back, I’m going to sue them.”

If they refuse to refund me, I’m going to take legal action against them

“She sued the hospital for negligence after the operation went wrong.”

She took the hospital to court for failing to provide proper care after the surgical procedure was botched

“In America, people sue each other for everything — it’s a whole different culture.”

In the US, individuals take legal action against one another over the smallest things — it’s a completely different way of thinking

Common Patterns

sue someone → take legal action against a person or organisation

sue someone for something (negligence/damages/defamation) → take someone to court for a specific reason

sue someone for (an amount of money) → demand a specific sum through legal action

sue for compensation/damages → take legal action to receive money for harm or loss

threaten to sue → warn someone that you will take legal action

get sued → have legal action taken against you

sue the company/council/government/NHS → take legal action against an organisation or institution

sue for wrongful dismissal/discrimination → take legal action because you were unfairly fired or treated unequally

sue on behalf of someone → take legal action representing another person

the right to sue → the legal entitlement to take someone to court

be sued (by someone) → have legal proceedings brought against you

Collocations

3 collocations

sue for damages

take legal action to claim compensation

threaten to sue

warn someone of upcoming legal action

sue for negligence

take legal action for careless behaviour

Example Sentences

12 examples

She’s threatening to sue the landlord for refusing to return her deposit

She’s warning the property owner that she’ll take legal action because he won’t give back her security payment.

The family sued the airline for compensation after their luggage was lost on three separate occasions

The household took the carrier to court seeking financial reimbursement after their baggage went missing on three different trips.

He got sued by his former business partner over a dispute about who owned the company name

His previous commercial associate took legal action against him because of a disagreement over who had rights to the business title.

The singer sued the newspaper for defamation after they published false claims about her personal life

The musical artist took the publication to court for damaging her reputation after they printed untrue statements about her private affairs.

If you slip on a wet floor with no warning sign, you can sue the business for negligence

If you fall on a damp surface that had no caution notice displayed, you have the right to take the establishment to court for failing in their duty of care.

The employee sued for wrongful dismissal and was awarded £45,000 in damages

The worker took legal action claiming he was unfairly fired and received forty-five thousand pounds as a court-ordered payment.

They wanted to sue, but their lawyer told them they didn’t have enough evidence to win

They intended to take legal action, but their legal representative advised them that they lacked sufficient proof to succeed in court.

She sued the hospital after a surgical error left her unable to walk without a stick

She took the medical institution to court after a mistake during an operation resulted in her being unable to move around without the aid of a walking support.

These days, companies are terrified of being sued — that’s why everything comes with a warning label

Nowadays, businesses are extremely frightened of having legal action brought against them — that’s the reason every product includes a cautionary notice.

The charity sued on behalf of hundreds of residents who were affected by the contaminated water supply

The non-profit organisation took legal action representing several hundred people living in the area who were harmed by the polluted drinking water.

Learner Examples

★

Understanding legal vocabulary like sue, claim, and liability is essential for advanced learners who need English for professional or academic purposes

Knowing courtroom-related words such as taking legal action, seeking financial reimbursement, and responsibility for harm is vital for higher-level students who require the language for work or scholarly study.

★

If a school fails to protect a student from bullying, the parents may have grounds to sue — which is why anti-bullying policies are taken so seriously

If an educational institution doesn’t safeguard a pupil from intimidation, the family may have legal justification to take the school to court — which is the reason harassment prevention guidelines are treated with such importance.