asker

ask

A0462500 (ăsk) v. asked, ask·ing, asks v. tr. 1. To put a question to: When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher. 2. To seek an answer to: ask a question. 3. To seek information about: asked directions. 4. a. To make a request of: asked me for a loan. b. To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause: ask a favor of a friend; asked to go along on the trip; asked that he be allowed to stay out late. 5. To require or call for as a price or condition: asked ten dollars for the book. 6. To expect or demand: ask too much of a child. 7. To invite: asked them to dinner. 8. Archaic To publish, as marriage banns. v. intr. 1. To make inquiry; seek information. 2. To make a request: asked for help. n. pl. asks Informal 1. The act of making a request: "He was contacted by the mayor's fund-raiser ... a day after the mayor made the ask" (Jennifer Fermino). 2. Something that is requested: "Being funny on demand is a big ask" (Anne Curzan). Phrasal Verb: ask out To invite (someone) to a social engagement. Idiom: ask for it (or trouble) Informal To persist in an action despite the likelihood that it will result in difficulty or punishment.

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[Middle English asken, from Old English ācsian, āscian; see ais- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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ask′er n. Synonyms: ask, question, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz
These verbs mean to seek to gain or elicit information from another: Ask is the most neutral term: We asked the police officer for directions. The coach asked me what was wrong.
Question implies careful or methodical asking: The prosecutor questioned the witness on several key points.
Inquire often suggests a polite or formal request: We inquired whether the hotel had laundry service. The chairman inquired how best to secure the information.
Query usually suggests settling a doubt: The proofreader queried the author on the spelling of a name.
Interrogate applies especially to official and often aggressive questioning: The detectives interrogated the suspects for several hours.
Examine refers particularly to close and detailed questioning to ascertain a person's knowledge or qualifications: The committee examined each candidate separately.
Quiz denotes the informal examination of students: The teacher quizzed the pupils on the multiplication table.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

asker - someone who asks a question enquirer, inquirer, querier, questionercross-examiner, cross-questioner - someone who questions a witness carefully (especially about testimony given earlier)examiner, quizzer, tester - someone who administers a test to determine your qualificationsinquisitor, interrogator - a questioner who is excessively harshinterviewer - a person who conducts an interviewheadcounter, poll taker, pollster, canvasser - someone who conducts surveys of public opinion; "a pollster conducts public opinion polls"; "a headcounter counts heads"speaker, talker, verbaliser, verbalizer, utterer - someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous); "the speaker at commencement"; "an utterer of useful maxims"