ask

ask — verb

1. to use a question to find out something or get a reply

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to use a question to find out something or get a reply

Example

Mina asked the driver when the last bus left.

ask + wh-clause

At the museum desk, Leo asked about family tickets.

ask about + noun

Common collocations
  • ask a question
  • ask about prices
  • ask somebody why
  • ask the teacher
  • ask directly
Synonyms
  • question

    can sound more formal or more challenging than ask

  • inquire

    more formal, especially in service or business contexts

  • consult

    usually means asking an expert for advice

Antonyms
  • answer

    gives the information instead of seeking it

  • reply

    focuses on responding after someone asks

Grammar Patterns

ask somebody something

ask about something

ask + wh-clause

ask, "... ?"

Usage Note

Often takes a person as object, as in ask the teacher, or a wh-clause, as in ask where the keys are. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about getting help, permission, or action rather than information.

Common Mistakes

I asked to him about the job.
I asked him about the job.
ask takes the person directly, without to.

2. to let someone know that you want help, permission, action, or some object from

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to let someone know that you want help, permission, action, or some object from them

Example

Rina asked the nurse for a glass of water.

ask somebody for something

We asked our neighbors to watch the cat.

ask somebody to do something

Common collocations
  • ask for help
  • ask permission
  • ask a favor
  • ask somebody to stay
  • ask that payment be made
Synonyms
  • request

    more formal and common in official writing

  • appeal

    often suggests a serious or public request

  • seek

    more formal and less direct in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • offer

    means giving or volunteering instead of asking

  • provide

    focuses on supplying what is wanted

Grammar Patterns

ask for something

ask somebody to do something

ask to do something

ask that ...

Usage Note

Only sense that regularly takes ask for, ask somebody to do something, and formal ask that ... . Distinguish from sense 1, where the result you want is information rather than action or permission.

Common Mistakes

I asked him a coffee.
I asked him for a coffee.
use ask for when you want a thing.
She asked that open the window.
She asked him to open the window.
use ask somebody to do something when you name the person.

3. to invite someone to come with you, visit you, or join an event

3.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to invite someone to come with you, visit you, or join an event

Example

Sofia asked Paloma to come over after school.

ask somebody to come over

Our cousins asked us to stay through Sunday night.

ask somebody to stay

Common collocations
  • ask somebody over
  • ask somebody to dinner
  • ask somebody to a party
  • ask somebody to stay
Synonyms
  • invite

    the clearest neutral alternative

  • have over

    informal and mainly for inviting someone to your home

  • bring along

    focuses on joining a group rather than the invitation itself

Antonyms
  • exclude

    means deliberately not including someone

Grammar Patterns

ask somebody to come

ask somebody to a party

ask somebody over

ask somebody to dinner

Usage Note

Object is the invited person, often followed by to + event, over, or to dinner. Distinguish from sense 2, where you want help, permission, or some other action rather than someone's company.

Common Mistakes

She asked me for dinner next Friday.
She asked me to dinner next Friday.
ask somebody to dinner means invite, not request food.

4. to expect a certain effort, amount, or quality from someone or something

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to expect a certain effort, amount, or quality from someone or something

Example

At the bakery, the dawn shift asks Theo for steady hands.

task as subject

Coach Diaz asks a lot of new players in March.

ask a lot of somebody

Common collocations
  • ask a lot of somebody
  • ask too much of somebody
  • ask patience
  • ask great skill
Synonyms
  • require

    neutral and often less personal

  • demand

    stronger and more forceful

  • expect

    focuses on what you believe should happen

Antonyms
  • spare

    means not making someone face the effort or demand

Grammar Patterns

ask a lot of somebody

ask too much of somebody

it is asking a lot to ...

Usage Note

Common with ask a lot or ask too much of somebody, or with a task or situation as subject. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about making a request, not placing demands or expectations.

5. to think seriously about something, often by putting a question to yourself

5.verbtransitive / intransitiveC2
Definition

to think seriously about something, often by putting a question to yourself

Example

After the fight, Nora asked herself why she had shouted.

ask yourself + wh-clause

During the train ride, Omar asked if this plan still made sense.

ask if ... for reflection

Common collocations
  • ask yourself why
  • ask whether it is right
  • ask if it makes sense
  • ask what matters
Synonyms
  • consider

    broader and less personal than ask in this reflective pattern

  • reflect

    stresses quiet thought after an experience

  • wonder

    can be lighter and less deliberate than ask in this sense

Antonyms
  • ignore

    means not thinking about the issue at all

Grammar Patterns

ask yourself + wh-clause

ask if ...

ask whether ...

Usage Note

Usually appears without an outside listener and often with ask yourself, if, whether, or another question word. Distinguish from sense 1, where you are seeking an answer from another person.

6. to state the price you want a buyer to pay for something

6.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to state the price you want a buyer to pay for something

Example

The dealer asked $900 for the old pocket watch.

ask + amount + for + thing

Ms. Huang is asking too much for that tiny shop.

be asking too much for ...

Common collocations
  • ask $900 for it
  • ask too much for the house
  • ask a high price
Synonyms
  • charge

    often used when money is actually requested or collected

  • quote

    common when giving a price to a customer

  • price

    often means setting or marking the amount

Antonyms
  • pay

    describes the buyer's side, not the seller's

  • bid

    describes the amount a buyer offers

Grammar Patterns

ask $500 for something

be asking too much for something

Usage Note

Pattern is ask + amount + for + thing. Distinguish from sense 4, which is about demands or effort, not the selling price of an item.

Common Mistakes

The owner asked the car at $8,000.
The owner asked $8,000 for the car.
this price sense uses amount + for + thing.
Phrasal verbs

ask after

phrasal verb

To ask for news about someone's health or well-being.

Sara asked after your mother when I saw her yesterday.

Did anyone ask after me while I was away?

ask around

phrasal verb

To ask many people for information or help.

I'll ask around to see if anyone has a spare key.

Diego asked around but nobody knew the answer.

ask back

phrasal verb

To invite someone to return to a place or event.

The company asked him back for a second interview.

After the successful show, the theater asked the band back.

ask for

phrasal verb

To request something from someone.

Maya asked for a glass of water at the restaurant.

He asked for permission to leave early.

ask out

phrasal verb

To invite someone to go on a date.

Brian asked out his classmate to see a movie.

She was too shy to ask him out, so her friend did it.

Idioms

ask for it

idiom

To behave in a way that makes bad things happen to you because you deserve them.

Mina insulted the boss and got fired; she really asked for it.

Did he ask for it by driving without a license?

be asking for trouble | be asking for it

idiom

To do something that will probably cause problems or danger.

Leaving your bike unlocked in this area is asking for trouble.

Aiden knew he was asking for trouble when he lied to his parents.

don’t ask

idiom

Used to say that you do not want to answer a question because it is embarrassing or complicated.

How did the party go? Don't ask – it was a disaster.

Why is he so upset? Don't ask, it's a long story.

don’t ask me

idiom

Used to say that you do not know the answer and are annoyed that someone asked.

Why is the train late? Don't ask me, I have no idea.

When will the package arrive? Don't ask me, ask the delivery company.

for the asking

idiom

If something is available for the asking, you can get it easily just by requesting it.

The scholarship is yours for the asking if you meet the requirements.

Free samples are available for the asking at the front desk.

I ask you

idiom

Used to express strong surprise, anger, or disapproval about something.

He expects us to work on a Sunday. I ask you!

She wore pajamas to the wedding. I ask you, what was she thinking?

if you ask me

idiom

Used to introduce your personal opinion about something.

If you ask me, the movie was too long and boring.

That restaurant is overpriced, if you ask me.

ask — noun

Word family

  • asker
    nounC1
  • unasked
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For verb sense 1, ask is the broad everyday word when you want information from someone. Question can mean the same thing, but it often sounds more formal, and it can also suggest challenge or pressure, as when police question a suspect. Inquire is even more formal and appears often in service, business, and official messages: inquire about a booking sounds more distant than ask about a booking. Consult is different again: you consult a doctor, lawyer, or map when you want advice or guidance from a reliable source. A useful memory line is: ask a friend the time, inquire about train times, and consult a doctor about a rash.

question ↗inquire ↗consult ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • ask somebody something
  • ask for help
  • ask a lot of somebody

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Ask comes from Old English forms such as ascian and acsian, both meaning to request or seek an answer. Those older shapes help explain why some English dialects still use aks alongside ask. The word has stayed in everyday use for more than a thousand years, and over time it grew from the basic idea of putting a question to someone into related meanings such as making a request, inviting someone, and naming a selling price.