ask

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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

see also:

ask for it ask for trouble

ask

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noun (1)

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

asker

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noun (2)

ask·​er

ˈa-skər, 

ˈä-

plural -s

: one that asks:

a

: one that asks questions : inquirer

b

: one that asks favors, gifts, or alms : suppliant, beggar

asker

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noun (3)

as·​ker

ˈa-skər

plural -s

dialectal, England

: water newt

Synonyms of ask

Verb

• interrogate
• 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

Several students testified that Anthony was repeatedly asked to leave the Memorial High School tent before the confrontation escalated. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the film investigates evidence that Greenland’s ice sheet collapsed in the past and asks what that reveals about the planet’s future. —Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026

Noun

The Aries Moon brings momentum through friends and shared goals, so do not shrink your ask to keep things easy. —Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026

Whatever the ask, a new data indexing methodology allows Siri to better track, access, and provide the information. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 June 2026

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 (1)

noun derivative of ask entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English, from asken + -er

Noun (3)

Middle English ascre

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun (1)

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

Rhymes for ask

• bask
• basque
• cask
• casque
• flask
• mask
• masque
• pasch
• task
• subtask
• unmask

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