Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense asks, present participle asking, past tense, past participle asked
1. verb
If you ask someone something, you say something to them in the form of a question because you want to know the answer.
'How is Frank?' he asked. [VERB with quote]
I asked him his name. [VERB noun noun]
I wasn't the only one asking questions. [VERB noun]
She asked me if I'd enjoyed my dinner. [VERB noun wh]
If Daniel asks what happened in court we will tell him. [VERB wh]
You will have to ask David about that. [VERB noun + about]
'I'm afraid to ask what it cost.'—'Then don't ask.' [VERB]
[Also Vabout n]
Synonyms: inquire, question, quiz, query More Synonyms of ask
2. verb
If you ask someone to do something, you tell them that you want them to do it.
We had to ask him to leave. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Synonyms: request, apply to, appeal to, plead with More Synonyms of ask
3. verb
If you askto do something, you tell someone that you want to do it.
I asked to see the Director. [VERB to-infinitive]
4. verb
If you ask for something, you say that you would like it.
I decided to go to the next house and ask for food. [VERB + for]
Who asked for your opinion? [VERBfor noun]
5. verb
If you ask for someone, you say that you would like to speak to them.
There's a man at the gate asking for you. [VERB + for]
6. verb
If you ask someone's permission, opinion, or forgiveness, you try to obtain it by putting a request to them.
Please ask permission from whoever pays the phone bill before making your call. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If you ask someone to an event or place, you invite them to go there.
Couldn't you ask Jon to the party? [VERB noun + to]
She asked me back to her house. [VERB noun adverb]
[Also VERB noun + for]
Synonyms: invite, bid, summon More Synonyms of ask
8. verb
If someone is asking a particular price for something, they are selling it for that price.
Mr Pantelaras was asking £6,000 for his collection. [VERB noun + for]
[Also VERB noun]
9.
See don't ask me
10.
See for the asking
11.
See I ask you
12.
See may I ask
13.
See if you ask me
14.
See be asking for trouble/be asking for it
Phrasal verbs:
See ask after
See ask around
More Synonyms of ask
ask in British English
(ɑːsk)
verb
1. (often foll by about)
to put a question (to); request an answer (from)
she asked (him) about God
2. (transitive)
to inquire about
she asked him the time of the train
she asked the way
3. (transitive)
to direct or put (a question)
4. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive; often foll byfor)
to make a request or demand
she asked (him) for information
they asked for a deposit
5. (transitive)
to demand or expect (esp in the phrases ask a lot of, ask too much of)
6. Also: ask out, ask over(transitive)
to request (a person) politely to come or go to a place; invite
he asked her to the party
7. (transitive)
to need; require
the job asks both time and patience
8. (transitive) archaic
to proclaim (marriage banns)
noun
9. a big ask
Derived forms
asker (ˈasker)
noun
Word origin
Old English āscian; related to Old Frisian āskia, Old Saxon ēscon, Old High German eiscōn
Ask in British English
(ɑːsk)
noun
Norse mythology
the first human, created by the gods from an ash tree
ask in American English
(æsk; ɑsk)
verb transitive
1.
to use words in seeking the answer to (a question); try to find out about by inquiring
2.
to put a question to (a person); inquire of
3.
to request; solicit; beg
4.
to demand or expect as a price
they ask ten dollars for it
5.
to be in need of or call for (a thing)
6.
to invite
verb intransitive
7.
to request information
8.
to make a request (for)
9.
to inquire (about, after, or for)
10.
to behave in such a way that one appears to be looking (for trouble, punishment, etc.)
SYNONYMY NOTE: ask and the more formal , inquire, query usually denote no more than the seeking of an answer or information, but , query also often implies doubt as to the correctness of something [the printer queried the spelling of several words]; question, interrogate imply the asking of a series of questions [to question a witness], interrogate adding the further implication of systematic examination [to interrogate a prisoner of war]; catechize is equivalent to , interrogate but implies the expectation of certain fixed answers, esp. with reference to religiousdoctrine; , quiz, used esp. in schools, implies a short, selective questioning to test factual knowledgeof some subject
OPPOSITES: answer, tell
Derived forms
asking (ˈasking)
noun
asker (ˈasker)
noun
Word origin
ME askien < OE āscian < IE base *ais-, to wish, desire > Sans iccháti, (he) seeks, OHG eiscōn, inquire, demand
ask in Finance
(æsk)
noun
(Finance: Investment, Stocks)
The ask is the price at which someone is willing to sell stocks or property in auction.
Dealers quote two premiums on each contract, with the bid being what buyers are willingto pay, and the ask being what sellers want to be paid.
The market maker usually buys the stock at the bid price, hoping to sell it laterat the ask price and earn the difference.
The ask is the price at which someone is willing to sell stocks or property in auction.
More idioms containing
ask
a big ask
ask for the moon
Examples of 'ask' in a sentence
ask
She was rather disgusted that she had not thought to ask Filip to pack any food.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
Let her breathe the air outside of Sanctuary for a time and then ask her the same question.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
Walter, she checked into that hotel alone - don't ask me why, I can't explain it.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2001)
We're friends, so I'm going to keep my temper and ask you what you're suggesting.
Lisa Scottoline LEGAL TENDER (2001)
Word lists with
ask
Characters in Norse mythology
In other languages
ask
British English: ask /ɑːsk/ VERB
If you ask someone a question, you say that you want to know something.
I asked him what his name was.
American English: ask
Arabic: يَسْأَلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: perguntar
Chinese: 询问
Croatian: pitati
Czech: zeptat se
Danish: spørge
Dutch: vragen
European Spanish: preguntar
Finnish: kysyä
French: demander
German: fragen
Greek: ρωτώ
Italian: chiedere
Japanese: 尋ねる
Korean: 묻다 질문
Norwegian: spørre
Polish: zapytać
European Portuguese: perguntar
Romanian: a întreba
Russian: спрашивать
Latin American Spanish: preguntar
Swedish: fråga
Thai: ถาม
Turkish: sormak
Ukrainian: запитувати
Vietnamese: hỏi
All related terms of 'ask'
ask for
to try to obtain by requesting
ask after
If someone asks after you, they ask someone how you are.
a big ask
something which you have been asked to do that is very difficult or demanding
ask around
If you ask around or ask round , you ask several people a question .
I ask you
If you say ' I ask you ', you are emphasizing how much you disapprove of someone or something.
may I ask
You can say ' may I ask ' as a formal way of asking a question , which shows you are annoyed or suspicious about something.
don't ask me
You reply ' don't ask me ' when you do not know the answer to a question , usually when you are annoyed or surprised that you have been asked.
ask for feedback
If you ask for feedback , you ask someone, such as a guest in a hotel, to tell you if they enjoyed their stay and what could be improved.
ask for the moon
to ask for something that you cannot possibly have
if you ask me
You can say ' if you ask me ' to emphasize that you are stating your personal opinion .
ask for the check
If you ask for the check , you ask the waitperson in a restaurant to bring you a piece of paper on which the price of your meal is written.
ask for a signature
If you ask for a signature , you ask someone to write their name, in their own characteristic way, on a document .
Chinese translation of 'ask'
ask
(ɑːsk)
vt
to ask (sb) a question问(問)(某人)一个(個)问(問)题(題) (wèn (mǒurén) yī gè wèntí)
(= invite) 邀请(請) (yāoqǐng)
⇒ I asked her to the party.我邀请她参加聚会。 (Wǒ yāoqǐng tā cānjiā jùhuì.)