ask

1 of 2

verb

ˈask  ˈäsk 

 dialectal  ˈaks

asked ˈas(k)t 

ˈäs(k)t,

ˈask;

 dialectal  ˈakst

; asking

transitive verb

1

a

: to call on for an answer

She asked him about his trip.

b

: to put a question about

asking her opinion

c

: speak, utter

ask a question

2

a

: to make a request of

She asked her teacher for help.

b

: to make a request for

She asked help from her teacher.

3

: to call for : require

a challenge that will ask much of us

4

: to set as a price

asked $3000 for the car

5

: invite

She asked a few friends to the party.

intransitive verb

1

: to seek information

ask for her address

2

: to make a request

asked for food

asker noun

ask

2 of 2

noun

chiefly British, informal

: something asked for, requested, or required of someone

—used especially in phrases like a big ask and a tough ask to say that what is being asked for or hoped for is difficult or unlikely

It's a big ask, I think, demanding audiences recall a plot from two years ago, and while normally I don't mind a big ask … this particular ask utterly defeated me.

—Deborah Ross

Phrases

ask for it

informal

: to behave in a way that invites punishment or retribution

Experts used to think that battered women were "asking for it"—somehow masochistically provoking abuse from their men. Mercifully, that idea has now been discredited.

—Michele Ingrassia

ask for trouble

informal

: to behave in a way that is likely to result in trouble

… you are asking for trouble if you try to lift too much weight …

—Douglas Jeffrey

Synonyms

Verb

• catechize
• grill
• inquire (of)
• interrogate
• query
• question
• quiz

Choose the Right Synonym for ask

ask, question, interrogate, query, inquire mean to address a person in order to gain information.

ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

ask, request, solicit mean to seek to obtain by making one's wants known.

ask implies no more than the statement of the desire.

ask a favor of a friend

request implies greater formality and courtesy.

requests the pleasure of your company

solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement.

a letter soliciting information

Examples of ask in a Sentence

Verb

I need to ask a question.

Did you ask her yet?

“Have you seen the movie yet?” he asked.

a list of frequently asked questions

“If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?” “I'm 35 years old. Why do you ask?”

“Do they have any soda?” “I don't know. I'll go ask.”

I would have given it to him, but he never asked.

We had to stop and ask directions.

May I ask the time?

Did you ask permission to leave?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Maybe count to 10, then ask yourself what is the problem. —Marc Silver, NPR, 28 Apr. 2024

Instead, those who are registered are asked to monitor lists of names that Hala publishes on its Facebook and Telegram accounts each day that detail who will be allowed to cross into Egypt, and when. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2024

With more than 5,700 career races won, Smith was asked if his two Derby wins are different. —Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2024

While Disney asks character performers to be available to work at any time, that demand isn’t always rewarded with scheduled work hours, the California performers said. —Mike Schneider, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2024

Then the pollsters asked about a five-way race involving Biden, Trump, Kennedy, Stein and Cornel West, the philosopher and political activist. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024

Their unease is particularly pronounced on account of the Olympics and was exacerbated by the recent terrorist attacks at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, according to two officials familiar with the situation who asked to remain anonymous. —Ania Nussbaum, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024

Golden Bachelor Is a Franchise Success Story During a panel with unscripted showrunners at this year’s Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, Freeland mentioned The Golden Bachelor as a positive example of where the franchise is heading when asked about the franchise’s diversity woes. —Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024

Just ask Vripack, the Dutch design studio developing a pioneering expedition vessel for a young thrill seeker. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024

Noun

The ask was a 3/8th-cent sales tax to raise $425 million over 25 years. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

The ask is reportedly consistent with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s emphasis on cost-cutting that has come about as the electric vehicle market faces a pretty steep slowdown. —Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2024

Type in a query, and Perplexity responds with follow up questions, asking you to refine your ask. —Lauren Goode, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024

Related Articles That was already a strenuous ask at the start of spring, with only four left-handed relievers in camp to begin with. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024

The administration’s ask falls far below the recommendations of the national academies’ study, which urged Congress to provide $300 to $400 million in additional annual funding over 12 years to overcome a backlog of facilities damage. —Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

But perhaps the biggest ask in this category calls for the Chiefs and Royals to each put $50 million initially – and $5 million a year thereafter for the life of the sales tax – into a fund to address displacement and affordable housing in the community. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024

The new big ask may be to raise the finance to retain total IP on higher end movies. —John Hopewell, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024

This year’s ask demonstrates just how large a gap schools could face as policy experts are warning of an impending fiscal cliff in D.C. and beyond because of the lapse of pandemic-era money. —Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English āscian; akin to Old High German eiscōn to ask, Lithuanian ieškoti to seek, Sanskrit icchati he seeks

Noun

noun derivative of ask entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ask

• ask after
• ask around
• ask for
• ask for it
• ask for the moon
• ask for trouble
• ask oneself
• ask someone out
• don't ask
• don't ask me
• I ask you
• if you ask me

Kids Definition

ask

verb

ˈask  ˈȧsk 

1

: to seek information : inquire

asked about our trip

2

a

: to make a request

ask for help

b

: to make a request to

ask your teacher to help you

3

: to set as a price : demand

asked $20 for the bicycle

4

: invite entry 1 sense 2a

asked friends to a party

5

: to behave as if looking

asking for trouble

asker noun