ask
6 ENTRIES FOUND:
asks;
asked;
asking
asks;
asked;
asking
Britannica Dictionary definition of ASK
1
:
to say or write something to someone as a way of gaining information
:
to request an answer to a question
— often + about
— often + if or whether
— often + why, what, etc.
— often + about
[+ object]
-
I need to ask a question.
-
I need to ask you a question. = (less commonly) I need to ask a question of you.
-
Are there any questions you would like to ask (me)?
-
Did you ask her yet?
-
“Have you seen the movie yet?” he asked.
-
a list of frequently asked questions
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We always ask him about his mother.
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He asked (them) if they had seen the movie.
-
She asked (me) if I was worried.
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They were asked whether they would like to buy the car.
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You should ask (him) why he didn't come.
-
He always asks (her) what she thinks.
-
May I ask what time it is?
-
It's not polite to ask how much a person weighs.
[no object]
-
“If you don't mind me/my asking, how old are you?” “I'm 35 years old. Why do you ask?”
-
Please don't ask again.
-
“Do they have any soda?” “I don't know. I'll go ask.”
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I asked about her plans for the future.
-
The police were here asking about you.
2
:
to tell someone in the form of a question that you want to be given something or that you want something to happen
:
to request something
— often + for
— often + for
— often + if or whether
— often + that
— often followed by to + verb
[no object]
-
If you want something to drink, just ask. [=just tell me that you want something to drink]
-
I would have given it to him, but he never asked.
-
Let's stop and ask for directions.
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I'll have to ask for permission to leave.
-
She asked for their forgiveness/help.
-
She ate all of her food and asked for more.
-
His lawyers are asking for the case to be dismissed.
[+ object]
-
We had to stop and ask directions.
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May I ask the time?
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Did you ask permission to leave?
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She asked their forgiveness.
-
We had to ask someone for directions.
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I asked her for permission.
-
She asked them for their forgiveness.
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He asked if he could use my telephone.
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They asked us whether we might stay an extra day.
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She asked that I not say anything about it.
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His lawyers are asking that the case be dismissed.
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She asked (for permission) to borrow her father's car for the day.
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I asked (for permission) to leave work early.
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You should ask your teacher to help you.
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Unhappy with the service, he asked to see the manager.
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He asked me to marry him.
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I'm sorry, but I need to ask you to leave.
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She asked me not to say anything about it to anyone.
-
I wanted to say something about it, but she asked me not to.
3
[+ object]
:
to invite (someone) to go somewhere or do something
-
He's asking just a few friends to the party.
-
I asked him to lunch.
-
They asked me over for dinner.
◊ To ask someone out is to ask someone to go on a date with you.
-
I asked her out (on a date), but she turned me down.
4
[+ object]
a
:
to believe that you should receive (something) from someone
— often + of
-
She doesn't ask [=expect, require] a lot. She asks very little in return for her hard work.
-
The school asks much of its students. [=the school expects its students to do a lot]
-
He says that people ask too little of their politicians.
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He was ready to go to war, should the government ask it of him. [=should the government ask him to go to war]
b
:
to set (a specific amount of money) as a price
—
see also asking price
-
The dealer originally asked [=wanted] $20,000 for the car, but he sold it to me for $18,000.
-
They're asking [=charging] $100 or more per concert ticket.
ask after
[phrasal verb]
ask after (someone or something)
:
to ask about (someone or something)
-
He asked after my wife's health.
-
He greeted us warmly and asked after our families. [=he asked how our families were]
ask around
[phrasal verb]
:
to ask many people to tell you information about someone or something
-
Maybe you should ask around to find out more about this guy.
-
We usually ask around before trying a new restaurant.
ask for
[phrasal verb]
1
ask for (someone)
:
to request to see or talk to (someone)
-
Unhappy with the service, he asked for the store manager.
-
There's someone on the phone asking for you.
2
ask for it
informal
:
to behave in a way that makes someone want to hurt or punish you
-
You're asking for it, kid! If you keep misbehaving, you're going to get punished.
-
All right. You asked for it!
3
ask for trouble
informal
:
to behave in a way that is likely to result in trouble
—
see also ask for the moon at 1moon
-
If you invest your money without doing careful research, you're just asking for trouble.
ask yourself
◊ To ask yourself something is to think about the true answer to a question.
-
Ask yourself what you would do in that situation.
-
Before buying an expensive item, he needs to ask himself if/whether he can afford it.
don't ask
informal
— used to say that something is too strange, embarrassing, or complicated to explain
-
“She married and divorced a man in the same day? How is that possible?” “Don't ask.”
don't ask me
informal
— used to say that you do not know the answer to a question
-
“Why are they having a company meeting?” “Don't ask me. I only work here.”
-
Don't ask me why they're changing the system. I think it's fine the way it is.
for the asking
◊ If something is yours for the asking, you can have it if you want it or ask for it.
-
This job is hers for the asking. [=she can have the job if she wants it]
-
Our services are available/free for the asking. [=our services are available/free for anyone who wants them]
I ask you
◊ People use the phrase I ask you before or after a question when they want someone to agree or sympathize with them.
-
(Now) I ask you, is that fair? [=I don't think it's fair; do you?]
-
Look at that hat! Who would wear such a thing, I ask you?
if you ask me
informal
:
in my opinion
-
She looks ridiculous in that hat, if you ask me.
who asked you?
informal + impolite
— used as a response when someone gives an opinion that is not wanted
-
“I think you should break up with that guy.” “Who asked you?” [=mind your own business; I don't want to hear your opinion]
