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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | ascian |
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ask1 S1 W1
1 to speak or write to someone in order to get an answer, information, or a solution : 
'What's your name?' she asked.Don't ask him - he won't know.
question
[intransitive and transitive]'What's your name?' she asked.Don't ask him - he won't know. ask around (=ask in a lot of places or ask a lot of people) I'll ask around, see if I can find you a place to stay.
I'll ask around, see if I can find you a place to stay.2 to make a request for help, advice, information etc : If you need anything, you only have to ask.
for help/advice etc
[intransitive and transitive]If you need anything, you only have to ask.3 to want a particular amount of money for something you are selling : How much is he asking? They're asking a fortune for that house.
price
[transitive]How much is he asking?They're asking a fortune for that house.4 to invite someone to your home, to go out with you etc
invite
[transitive usually + adverb/preposition] ask somebody to do something Let's ask them to have dinner with us some time.
Let's ask them to have dinner with us some time. ask somebody out (=ask someone, especially someone of the opposite sex, to go to a film, a restaurant etc with you) Jerry's too scared to ask her out.
Jerry's too scared to ask her out. ask somebody in (=invite someone into your house, office etc) Don't leave them standing on the doorstep - ask them in!
Don't leave them standing on the doorstep - ask them in! ask somebody over/round (=invite someone to come to your home) We must ask our new neighbours over for a drink.
We must ask our new neighbours over for a drink.5 if you ask something of someone, you want them to do it for you : It would be better if he cooperated, but perhaps I'm asking too much.
demand
[transitive]It would be better if he cooperated, but perhaps I'm asking too much. ask something of somebody You have no right to ask anything of me. Expecting the children to do an hour's homework after school is asking a lot of them.
You have no right to ask anything of me.Expecting the children to do an hour's homework after school is asking a lot of them.6 to do something that is very likely to have a bad effect or result : Saying that to a feminist is just asking for trouble.
be asking for trouble
Saying that to a feminist is just asking for trouble.7 to think carefully and honestly about something : You have to ask yourself where your responsibilities really lie.
ask yourself something
You have to ask yourself where your responsibilities really lie.9 spoken used to say you do not know the answer to something : 'Where's she gone then?' 'Don't ask me!'
don't ask me
'Where's she gone then?' 'Don't ask me!'10 spoken used to say that something is too embarrassing or strange to explain : 'What was that woman selling?' 'Don't ask.'
don't ask
'What was that woman selling?' 'Don't ask.'11 spoken used to say that someone deserves something bad that happens to them : It's his own fault he got hit - he was asking for it.
be asking for it
It's his own fault he got hit - he was asking for it.12 if something is yours for the asking, you can have it if you want it : The job was hers for the asking.
be somebody's for the asking
informalThe job was hers for the asking.WORD FOCUS: ask WORD FOCUS: ask
request to officially ask for something
consult to ask someone for advice
demand to ask for something very forcefully
nag/pester to keep asking for something many times, in an annoying way
beg/plead to ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very much
question/interrogate to ask someone questions - used especially about the police or the army
grill informal to ask someone a lot of difficult questions
cross-examine to ask someone questions in court - used about lawyers
poll to ask a lot of people for their opinion about something
WORD FOCUS: ask request to officially ask for something
consult to ask someone for advice
demand to ask for something very forcefully
nag/pester to keep asking for something many times, in an annoying way
beg/plead to ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very much
question/interrogate to ask someone questions - used especially about the police or the army
grill informal to ask someone a lot of difficult questions
cross-examine to ask someone questions in court - used about lawyers
poll to ask a lot of people for their opinion about something
ask after somebody
phrasal verbI spoke to James today. He was asking after you.ask for somebody
phrasal verbThere's someone at the door asking for Dad.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
say, tell, give, askYou use say when you are mentioning someone's exact words • 'Hello,' she said. • Someone said, 'Let's go!'Say can be followed by 'that' • He said that he was tired. In speech people often leave out 'that' • They said there had been a mistake.Say can be followed by 'something', 'anything', 'nothing', or 'so' • Did you say something? • Nobody dared to say anything. • You have to come - Dad said so.It can also be followed by 'goodbye' or 'hello' • I'll just go and say hello to David.Apart from these uses, say is not normally followed by an object. For example, it cannot be followed by 'a story', 'a lie', 'some information', or 'an answer'. You tell a story, a joke, a lie, or the truth • They told a funny story about their trip. You give information, an order, an instruction, or an answer • He gave no reply.!! You do not say a question. You ask a question • Can I ask a question?You can say something to someone • Has he said something to you?When talking about giving information, it is more usual to say that you tell someone something • Clare told us something interesting (NOT said us something...). • Can anyone tell me what time it is? (NOT say to me what...) You can tell someone about something • Did you tell Lucy about the party? (NOT say to Lucy about...)You can say to do something, but it is more usual to tell someone to do something • The teacher told us to open our books (NOT said us/said to us to...). ➔ See also say
WORD CHOICE: say, tell, give, askYou use say when you are mentioning someone's exact words • 'Hello,' she said. • Someone said, 'Let's go!'Say can be followed by 'that' • He said that he was tired. In speech people often leave out 'that' • They said there had been a mistake.Say can be followed by 'something', 'anything', 'nothing', or 'so' • Did you say something? • Nobody dared to say anything. • You have to come - Dad said so.It can also be followed by 'goodbye' or 'hello' • I'll just go and say hello to David.Apart from these uses, say is not normally followed by an object. For example, it cannot be followed by 'a story', 'a lie', 'some information', or 'an answer'. You tell a story, a joke, a lie, or the truth • They told a funny story about their trip. You give information, an order, an instruction, or an answer • He gave no reply.!! You do not say a question. You ask a question • Can I ask a question?You can say something to someone • Has he said something to you?When talking about giving information, it is more usual to say that you tell someone something • Clare told us something interesting (NOT said us something...). • Can anyone tell me what time it is? (NOT say to me what...) You can tell someone about something • Did you tell Lucy about the party? (NOT say to Lucy about...)You can say to do something, but it is more usual to tell someone to do something • The teacher told us to open our books (NOT said us/said to us to...). ➔ See also say
