ask

[ ask, ahsk ]

/ æsk, ɑsk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ask ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to put a question to; inquire of: I asked him but he didn't answer.

to request information about: to ask the way.

to try to get by using words; request: to ask advice; to ask a favor.

to solicit from; request of: Could I ask you a favor? Ask her for advice.

to demand; expect: What price are they asking? A little silence is all I ask.

to set a price of: to ask $20 for the hat.

to call for; need; require: This experiment asks patience.

to invite: to ask guests to dinner.

Archaic. to publish (banns).

verb (used without object)

to make inquiry; inquire: to ask about a person.

to request or petition (usually followed by for): to ask for leniency; to ask for food.

Idioms for ask

ask for it, to risk or invite trouble, danger, punishment, etc., by persisting in some action or manner: He was asking for it by his abusive remarks.

Origin of ask

before 900; Middle English asken, axen, Old English āscian, āxian; cognate with Old Frisian āskia, Old Saxon ēscon, Old High German eiscōn (German heischen), Sanskrit icchati (he) seeks

SYNONYMS FOR ask

1 question, interrogate.

3, 11 sue, appeal.

4 beseech, beg, entreat.

10 See inquire.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ask ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR ask

1, 10 answer.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR ask ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM ask

ask·er, noun un·ask·ing, adjective un·ask·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby ask

asimov, asine, asinine, asio, asir, ask, ask a stupid question and you'll get a stupid answer, ask after, ask for, ask for the moon, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country

Definition for ask (2 of 2)

Ask

[ ahsk ]

/ ɑsk /

noun Scandinavian Mythology.

the first man, made by the gods from an ash tree.

Compare Embla.

Origin of Ask

< Old Norse Askr; see ash²

Example sentences from the Web for ask

And I need to ask why their truth makes me so defensive, as if my truth is the only truth.

In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion |Gene Robinson |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
One is forced to ask, what on earth was Andrew doing hanging out with scantily clad teenagers?

Buckingham Palace Disputes Sex Allegations Against Prince ‘Randy Andy’ |Tom Sykes |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
“You ask me my motivation,” Marvin says, moving back into his tough guy persona again.

The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile |Robert Ward |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
I ask Atefeh and Monir if they see dancing as a form of income in the future, a potential career.

Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread |IranWire |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

My wife was talking to her on the phone, and I just kinda found the courage to ask her.

Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll |James Joiner |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
I will ask our brother, Huya, the great war bird, to lead you to the Blackfeet camp.

The War Trail |Elmer Russell Gregor
Ask me to do anything, but don't ask me to go away—to go back to Wrexham.

Robert Orange |John Oliver Hobbes
The monarch was admonished to ask no more, but he disregarded the warning.

The Mysteries of All Nations |James Grant
Twelve dollars a day was not too much to ask for board, room and guide services.

Double Challenge |James Arthur Kjelgaard
Then, O great king, Kapila was pleased with Ansuman, and that saint of a virtuous soul told him to ask for a favour from him.

Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 |Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

British Dictionary definitions for ask (1 of 2)

ask

/ (ɑːsk) /

verb

(often foll by about) to put a question (to); request an answer (from) she asked ( him ) about God

(tr) to inquire about she asked him the time of the train; she asked the way

(tr) to direct or put (a question)

(may take a clause as object or an infinitive often foll by for) to make a request or demand she asked ( him ) for information; they asked for a deposit

(tr) to demand or expect (esp in the phrases ask a lot of, ask too much of)

Also: ask out, ask over (tr) to request (a person) politely to come or go to a place; invite he asked her to the party

(tr) to need; require the job asks both time and patience

(tr) archaic to proclaim (marriage banns)

noun

a big ask or a tough ask British, Australian and NZ informal a task which is difficult to fulfil

Derived forms of ask

asker, noun

Word Origin for ask

Old English āscian; related to Old Frisian āskia, Old Saxon ēscon, Old High German eiscōn

British Dictionary definitions for ask (2 of 2)

Ask

/ (ɑːsk) /

noun

Norse myth the first man, created by the gods from an ash tree

Idioms and Phrases with ask

ask

In addition to the idioms beginning with ask

ask a stupid question and you'll get a stupid answer
ask for
ask for the moon
ask out

, see

don't ask
for the asking

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

ask

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for ask

Origin of ask

SYNONYMS FOR ask

ANTONYMS FOR ask

OTHER WORDS FROM ask

Words nearby ask

Definition for ask (2 of 2)

noun Scandinavian Mythology.

Origin of Ask

Example sentences from the Web for ask

British Dictionary definitions for ask (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of ask

Word Origin for ask

British Dictionary definitions for ask (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with ask

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

ask

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for ask

Origin of ask

SYNONYMS FOR ask

ANTONYMS FOR ask

OTHER WORDS FROM ask

Words nearby ask

Definition for ask (2 of 2)

noun Scandinavian Mythology.

Origin of Ask

Words related to ask

Example sentences from the Web for ask

British Dictionary definitions for ask (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of ask

Word Origin for ask

British Dictionary definitions for ask (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with ask