countersue
gb/kˈaʊntɚsˌu/ us/kˈaʊntɚsˌu/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
legal
C1
action
1
sue in response
To sue someone after they have sued you first.
Usage pattern:
[someone] countersues ([someone]) for [damages/an amount]
Common mistake:
Do not use countersue to mean simply “sue again”; it means sue back in response to being sued.
Synonyms
file a countersuit (A phrase with the same basic meaning; often emphasizes the formal legal filing.)
|
bring a counterclaim (More technical; often refers to making a claim within the same legal case.)
|
counterclaim (Legal verb meaning to make a claim in response to another claim.)
Collocations
countersue for damages
|countersue for breach of contract
|threaten to countersue
|decide to countersue
|file and countersue
|sue and countersue
|countersue the company
|countersue the landlord
Themes
law
|courts
|disputes
|business
Examples
- After the contractor sued for unpaid bills, the homeowner countersued for defective work.
- The company denied the allegations and countersued its former employee for breach of contract.
- She threatened to countersue if the landlord took her to court.
Learner examples
- He sued her, so she countersued.
- The business countersued for damages.
Grammar
Dictionary form
countersue
IPA
GB/kˈaʊntɚsˌu/
US/kˈaʊntɚsˌu/
Syllables & stress
coun - ter - sue (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (coun)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: countersue
- 3rd Person Singular: countersues
- Present Participle: countersuing
- Past: countersued
- Past Participle: countersued
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.