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Glite Dictionary
❓ To inquire 🙏 To request 💲 To set a price
to ask

to ask

∞ 1.0
To request information or an answer from someone
  • verb
  • /æsk/
translation icon : preguntar
  • Why did you ask for me?
  • ask questions
  • frequently asked questions
  • ask open-ended questions

The question you didn't ask is Doctor Phil.

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Examples

  • All right, Sir, let me ask you one simple question.

  • Michael, can I ask you where are you from?

  • OK, so let me just ask what is life?

  • But let me just ask a few more questions.

    Tim Ferriss

  • So let me just ask you, can you do that?

  • Do you think I could ask you for a favor?

    #No_Filter (2022)

  • Hey, I wanna ask you something.

    All of Us Strangers (2023)

  • So if you'd like to ask a question, raise your hand.

  • As students begin to develop their solutions, ask them exploratory questions about their designs.

    Academic text (2013)

  • If you want to know more, just ask your teacher for help.

Synonyms

to interview
vsto ask
862 2.7

Ask someone questions to get information, for example for a job

is the simple act of requesting information, not a formal process
to question
vsto ask
570 1.0

To ask someone questions to get information

is broader, used to request any information or an answer
to call on
vsto ask
  • Formal
187 3.5

To ask someone to take action or give information, often in a meeting

is the basic act of requesting information, not a formal appeal
to inquire
vsto ask
  • Formal
107 3.0

To ask someone for information about something

is the everyday act of requesting information without special formality
to query
vsto ask
18 3.7

To ask a person a question to show doubt or get information

is neutral, used to request information without implied doubt
to sound out
vsto ask
2 4.4

Try to find out what someone thinks by asking indirect questions

is direct requesting of information rather than indirect probing
to shoot a question
vsto ask
  • Informal
1 3.7

To ask a question quickly and directly

is the general act of requesting information, not necessarily quick

Antonyms

to answer
∞ 1.0

To reply to a question or request

Idioms

to ask for trouble
  • Informal
12 4.8

Act in a way likely to cause problems

to shoot first and ask questions later
  • Informal
3 8.4

Act quickly without thinking or checking facts

to ask for the moon
  • Informal
1 7.6

To demand something that is impossible or too much

to ask for the moon on a stick
  • Informal
9.9

To want something that is impossible or not realistic

ask my arse
  • Offensive
9.9

A rude British phrase that shows you strongly refuse a request or that you do not believe a claim

Phrasal Verbs

to ask for
∞ 1.0

To tell someone you want or need something

to ask out
363 2.3

To invite someone to go on a date because you like them

to ask for
  • Informal
133 2.3

To do something that makes trouble or criticism likely

to ask for help
98 1.0

To tell someone you need support with a task or problem

to ask around
  • Informal
40 2.1

To ask several people for information

to ask for it
  • Informal
36 5.4

Behave in a way that causes trouble for yourself

to ask in
12 1.0

Invite someone to come into a room or house

to ask after
  • UK
9 3.3

Ask how someone is and about their health

to ask over
  • US
9 3.1

Invite someone to your home for dinner or drinks

to ask for change
3 4.4

To request small amounts of money from people on the street

to ask for a discount
1 2.1

To tell a seller you want a lower price

to ask round
  • UK
4.1

To invite people to your home for a visit or meal

Compounds

Ask Jeeves
  • Texting
7.3

A search website that let people ask questions in plain English

How Intense

to interrogate
  • Formal
142 6.5
to grill
  • Informal
59 4.9
to quiz
16 2.3
to question
777 3.5
to inquire
  • Formal
16 3.7
to ask
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

ask infinitive
asked past
asked past participle
asking present participle
asks third person singular

Etymology

Ask comes from an old German word meaning 'to seek' or 'request', so the idea was always about looking for something. That's why to ask a question is to try to 'seek' an answer.