askverb
uk/ɑːsk/us/æsk/ask verb (QUESTION)
B1 [ I or T ] to put a question to someone, or to request an answer from someone:
[ + two objects ] She asked me a question.
She asked a question about Welsh history.
She asked me about Welsh history.
She asked about Welsh history.
[ + question word ] I've no idea what time the train leaves. Ask the guard whether he knows.
I asked the guard the time of the train's departure.
I asked when the train would leave.
[ + speech ] "What time does the train leave?" I asked.
ask yourself sth
C2 to consider something carefully:
She needs to ask herself why nobody seems to like her.
More examples
- First I'd like to ask you a few questions about your childhood.
- I just wanted to ask you if you're free this afternoon.
- I hate having to ask for money.
- If you want any time off work you'll have to ask the boss.
- We had to ask our guide to interpret for us.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Questioning people & asking questions in general
- beat
- bombard
- canvass
- cross-question
- debrief
- desk research
- enquiry
- feel sb/sth out
- grilling
- interrogate
- interview
- interviewee
- opinion poll
- pin
- Q, q
- questioner
- questioning
- roll
- what do you have to say for yourself? idiom
- worm
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Thinking and contemplating
ask verb (REQUEST)
B1 [ I or T ] to speak or write to someone saying that you want them to do something, to give you something, or to allow you to do something:
If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask.
She asked (her manager) if/whether she could leave early to pick up the kids.
I asked to see my accountant.
You should ask (your accountant) for some financial advice.
[ + to infinitive ] You should ask your accountant to give you some financial advice.
Can I ask you a favour?/formal Can I ask a favour of you?
I'd like to ask your advice/opinion on a financial matter.
You have to ask permission to leave.
formal We ask that any faulty goods be returned in their original packaging.
[ + that ] formal The solicitor asked that her client be allowed to make a phone call.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making appeals & requests
- a cry for help idiom
- appellate
- application
- apply
- ask for sb
- beseech
- besiege
- besought
- bum
- cri de coeur
- crowdsource
- freeloader
- gateway
- hit sb up
- I'll thank you to do sth idiom
- pester
- petition
- request
- scrounge
- sponge
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ask verb (INVITE)
A2 [ T ] to request or invite someone to go somewhere with you or to come to your home:
UK I've asked David to the party.
[ + to infinitive ] US I've asked David to come to the party.
"Are you going to Muriel's party?" "No, I haven't been asked."
Jorge has asked us over for dinner next Friday.
UK Ian's asked us round to/for dinner next Friday.
In fact they've asked us to stay for the whole weekend.
More examples
- I dare you to ask him to dance.
- He told me - and this is strictly entre nous - that he's going to ask Ruth to marry him.
- He couldn't get up the courage to ask her for a date.
- She managed to muster the courage to ask him to the cinema.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Inviting & summoning
- ask sb in
- ask sb out
- call
- call sb in
- call sb out
- call-out
- convene
- invitation
- invite
- invite sb in
- invite sb over
- invitee
- recall
- send
- send for sb
- summon
- summons
ask verb (EXPECT)
[ T ] to expect or demand something:
Greg's asking (= expecting to be paid) £250,000 for his house.
He asks too much of me - I can't always be there to help him.
It's asking a lot when your boss wants you to work weekends as well as evenings.
More examples
- They were asking £180,000 for the place, so I put in an offer of £170,000.
- They're asking £60,000 for their flat, but the market price is nearer £55,000.
- We thought they were asking a very high price.
- I thought being asked to miss my lunch was a bit much.
- To expect me to look after her kids all day is asking a bit much.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Giving orders & commands
- all-points bulletin
- bade
- boss
- bossyboots
- chain of command
- crack the whip idiom
- defy
- demand
- enjoin
- expect
- forget
- harry
- lay down the law idiom
- mandate
- ordain
- order sb around
- overbearing
- prescribed
- steamroller
- stick
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Idiom(s)
be sb's for the asking
be asking for it/trouble
don't ask me
I ask you!
if you ask me
you may well ask
Phrasal verb(s)
ask after sb
ask around
ask for sb
ask for sb/sth
ask sb in
ask sb out