ask

1 of 2

verb

ˈask How to pronounce ask (audio) ˈäsk How to pronounce ask (audio)
 dialectal  ˈaks
asked ˈas(k)t How to pronounce ask (audio)
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
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
Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Marc Keast asked. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 After his acceptance speech, Yamazaki was asked in the press room backstage at the Academy Awards about his thoughts on his film’s similarities with Oppenheimer and the significance of these two stories achieving such success in the same year. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 The sheriff's office has asked that anyone with information about Hutchinson's whereabouts from when he was last seen until Sunday to contact Sgt. Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2024 Raba showed off her bracelets and asked about the girls’ tent. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Grafton School District superintendent Jeff Nelson and Grafton School District director of business services Topher Adams did not immediately respond to phone or email messages asking about the statuses of those investigations. Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 When asked what unbiased word or phrase might best characterize drug deaths, experts in drug policy and treatment struggled. Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 When asked about the cars on offer in Miami, Myers is assuredly optimistic. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 Rosenworcel began asking about automaker policies after a story in The New York Times about how connected cars are being weaponized in abusive relationships. Tom Krisher, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024
Noun
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 If the ask was a small one, something easy and not particularly incriminating, then, yes, perhaps it could be made over a drink or dinner; perhaps asking for an earnings report a day or two early. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024 Four years later, the house remains unsold and the ask has precipitously dropped by an eye-popping $60 million—a 44% nosedive from what the 82-year-old originally wanted. James McClain, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2024 Seeing Is Believing Expecting the company to double sales in two short years is a big ask. Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Investing financially in journalism can be a big ask, especially for young people. Landon Block, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2024 The ask: a deed restriction that prevents Swags from getting a bar-level liquor license in the future. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ask.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ask was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near ask

Cite this Entry

“Ask.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ask. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ask

verb
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

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