# sue

> English word · Verb · IPA /sjuː/ · frequency rank #4,985

## Definitions
1. To file a legal action against someone, generally a non-criminal (civil) action.
2. To seek by request; to make application; to petition; to entreat; to plead.
3. To clean (the beak, etc.).
4. To leave high and dry on shore.
5. To court.
6. To follow.

## Etymology
From Middle English seuen, sewen, siwen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman suer, siwer et al. and Old French sivre (“to follow after”) (modern French suivre), from Vulgar Latin *sequere (“to follow”), from Latin sequi. Cognate with Italian seguire and Spanish seguir. Doublet of segue. Related to suit.

## Easily confused with
- **SW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sw)
- **SV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sv)
- **Sy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sy)
- **sun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sun)
- **sum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sum)
- **SUV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-suv)
- **sup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sup)
- **Syd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-syd)
- **Sus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sus)
- **Sui** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sui)
- **syn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-syn)
- **suh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-suh)
- **Sul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sul)
- **SVP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-svp)
- **SVG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-svg)
- **sure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sure)
- **suit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-suit)
- **sung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sung)
- **sued** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sued)
- **sums** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sue-vs-sums)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sue