ask

noun singular

UK /ɑːsk/

1
something you think is going to be very difficult to achieve or succeed in
It was a big ask, but in 1964 Fraser became the only swimmer to win the same event at three successive Olympics.
Sometimes speaking truth to power feels like a bit of an ask.
Trying to convince the financial establishments to back us is a tough ask.
Synonyms and related words
Hard work and effort
heavy lifting
ask
work
2
make an ask
to ask for a favour
It is often tough to say no if a close friend makes an ask.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 27/09/2014
Open Dictionary - September2014

ask

noun singular

US /æsk/

1
something you think is going to be very difficult to achieve or succeed in
It was a big ask, but in 1964 Fraser became the only swimmer to win the same event at three successive Olympics.
It can be a tough ask to deal with IRS on your own.
Synonyms and related words
Hard work and effort
heavy lifting
ask
work
2
make an ask
to ask for a favour
It is often tough to say no if a close friend makes an ask.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 27/09/2014
Open Dictionary - September2014

ask

verb

UK /ɑːsk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	ask
he/she/it	asks
present participle	asking
past tense	asked
past participle	asked

1
intransitive/transitive to speak or write to someone in order to get information from them
I wondered who had given her the ring but was afraid to ask.
ask someone something:
I asked him his name, but he didn’t answer.
ask (someone) why/how/whether etc:
She asked me how I knew about it.
ask (someone) about something:
Did you ask about the money?
ask someone a question:
The police wanted to ask us a few questions.
ask yourself something (=consider it carefully):
He ought to ask himself why nobody ever invites him.
Synonyms and related words
To ask a question or questions
ask
question
demand
2
intransitive/transitive to speak or write to someone because you want them to give you something
If you need any help, just ask.
ask (someone) for something:
The children were asking for drinks.
ask someone’s permission/advice/opinion etc:
I think we’d better ask your mum’s opinion first.
ask someone a favour:
Can I ask you a favour?
Synonyms and related words
To ask someone to give you something
ask for
request
insist on something
3
intransitive/transitive to expect someone to do something or give you something
ask something (for something):
It’s a nice house, but they’re asking over half a million pounds.
ask a lot/too much:
It’s asking a lot of teenagers to expect them to see what’s wrong with consumerism.
All I want is five minutes’ peace and quiet: is that asking too much?
ask someone (not) to do something:
We ask guests not to smoke in the hotel.
Synonyms and related words
To think that something will happen
expect
count on
plan on
4
intransitive/transitive to say that you want something to happen, or that you want someone else to do something
ask someone (not) to do something:
Then the computer will ask you to restart it.
He asked us to join him.
ask to do something:
I asked to see the manager.
ask (not) to be:
The writer has asked not to be named.
ask that someone (should) do something:
The committee has asked that this scheme be stopped for now.
Synonyms and related words
To make a request
call away
call on
send for
5
transitive to invite someone to do something or go somewhere with you
ask someone to something:
How many people have you asked to the party?
ask someone for something:
We should ask them for a meal sometime.
ask someone over/round (=to your house):
The neighbours have asked us over for a drink.
ask someone in (=ask someone to come into your house, room, office etc):
We waited for half an hour before he asked us in.
ask someone to do something:
They asked me to stay the night.
Synonyms and related words
Entertaining guests
ask
catering
disinvite

phrases

ask someone to believe something

don’t ask

don’t ask me

for the asking

I ask you

if you ask me

who asked you?

you may/might well ask

phrasal verbs

ask after

ask around

ask for

ask out

ask