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Synonyms

ask

1 American  
[ask, ahsk] / æsk, ɑsk /

verb (used with object)

  1. to put a question to; inquire of.

    I asked him but he didn't answer.
    Synonyms:
    interrogate, question
    Antonyms:
    answer

  2. to request information about.

    to ask the way.

  3. to try to get by using words; request.

    to ask advice; to ask a favor.
    Synonyms:
    appeal, sue

  4. to solicit from; request of.

    Could I ask you a favor? Ask her for advice.
    Synonyms:
    entreat, beg, beseech

  5. to demand; expect.

    What price are they asking? A little silence is all I ask.

  6. to set a price of.

    to ask $20 for the hat.

  7. to call for; need; require.

    This experiment asks patience.

  8. to invite.

    to ask guests to dinner.

  9. Archaic. to publish (banns).

verb (used without object)

  1. to make inquiry; inquire.

    to ask about a person.
    Antonyms:
    answer

  2. to request or petition (usually followed byfor ).

    to ask for leniency; to ask for food.
    Synonyms:
    appeal, sue

noun

  1. a question or inquiry.

  2. a request, especially a demanding one.

    Is it too big an ask for you to give me a loan?

idioms

  1. 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.
Ask 2 American  
[ahsk] / ɑsk /

noun

Scandinavian Mythology.

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

ask 1 British  
/ ɑːsk /

verb

  1. (often foll by about) to put a question (to); request an answer (from)

    she asked (him) about God

  2. (tr) to inquire about

    she asked him the time of the train

    she asked the way

  3. (tr) to direct or put (a question)

  4. to make a request or demand

    she asked (him) for information

    they asked for a deposit

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

  6. 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

  7. (tr) to need; require

    the job asks both time and patience

  8. archaic (tr) to proclaim (marriage banns)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. informal a task which is difficult to fulfil

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Ask 2 British  
/ ɑːsk /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
ask More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing ask

Usage

What is a basic definition of ask? Ask is a verb that means to present a question to someone, to request something, or to invite someone. Ask has several other senses as a verb and a noun.If you are asking someone something, you usually want answers from them. When asking about something, you might pose several questions or politely request information about something.

  • Real-life examples: Students ask teachers questions about things that confuse them. If you forget your watch, you might ask someone what time it is. You might need to ask a store employee where the bathroom is.
  • Used in a sentence: We asked the teacher which chapters would be on the test. 
Ask can also mean to make a request for something. In this sense, it is often used in the phase “to ask for.”
  • Real-life examples: Children ask Santa Claus for presents at Christmas. Your mom asks you to clean your room. When you love someone, you might ask them to marry you.
  • Used in a sentence: I asked Bill if I could borrow his shovel.  
Ask also means to invite someone to do something or go somewhere.
  • Real-life examples: You can ask your friends over for a party. Your grandparents might ask you to come and visit.
  • Used in a sentence: Jin asked Maria out for a date on Saturday.

Related Words

See inquire.

Other Word Forms

  • asker noun
  • unasking adjective
  • unaskingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of ask1

First recorded 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”

Origin of Ask2

< Old Norse Askr; ash 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Richard's prediction: Southampton are in great form but knocking out Arsenal is a big ask.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

“Growing up, it was kind of hard, because I felt like I couldn’t have conversations with my grandparents. I wish I was able to ask them questions.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Barrett did ask tough questions of the ACLU’s Cecillia Wang, who argued against Trump’s order.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

His advice is to notify the preparer about the mistake and ask for an explanation.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

“I was stupid. I went up to his office to ask to be moved to the Displays Department and he . . .” I strangled on the rest and waved my hand again.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.