Definition of “ask” - English Dictionary

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“ask” in English

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askverb

uk ​ /ɑːsk/ us ​ /æsk/

ask verb (QUESTION)

B1 [ I or T ] to put a question to someone, or to request an answer from someone:

[ + two objects ] She asked me a question.
She asked a question about Welsh history.
She asked me about Welsh history.
She asked about Welsh history.
[ + question word ] I've no idea what time the train leaves. Ask the guard whether he knows.
I asked the guard the time of the train's departure.
I asked when the train would leave.
[ + speech ] "What time does the train leave?" I asked.
ask yourself sth

C2 to consider something carefully:

She needs to ask herself why nobody seems to like her.

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ask verb (REQUEST)

B1 [ I or T ] to speak or write to someone saying that you want them to do something, to give you something, or to allow you to do something:

If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask.
She asked (her manager) if/whether she could leave early to pick up the kids.
I asked to see my accountant.
You should ask (your accountant) for some financial advice.
[ + to infinitive ] You should ask your accountant to give you some financial advice.
Can I ask you a favour?/formal Can I ask a favour of you?
I'd like to ask your advice/opinion on a financial matter.
You have to ask permission to leave.
formal We ask that any faulty goods be returned in their original packaging.
[ + that ] formal The solicitor asked that her client be allowed to make a phone call.

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ask verb (INVITE)

A2 [ T ] to request or invite someone to go somewhere with you or to come to your home:

UK I've asked David to the party.
[ + to infinitive ] US I've asked David to come to the party.
"Are you going to Muriel's party?" "No, I haven't been asked."
Jorge has asked us over for dinner next Friday.
UK Ian's asked us round to/for dinner next Friday.
In fact they've asked us to stay for the whole weekend.

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ask verb (EXPECT)

› [ T ] to expect or demand something:

Greg's asking (= expecting to be paid) £250,000 for his house.
He asks too much of me - I can't always be there to help him.
It's asking a lot when your boss wants you to work weekends as well as evenings.

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Grammar

Ask and ask for …
AskAsk is a verb meaning ‘put a question or seek an answer from someone’: …
Ask forIf you ask for something, it means that you want someone to give you something: …
Ask and ask for: typical error …

Idiom(s)

be sb's for the asking
be asking for it/trouble
don't ask me
I ask you!
if you ask me
you may well ask

Phrasal verb(s)

ask after sb
ask around
ask for sb
ask for sb/sth
ask sb in
ask sb out

(Definition of “ask” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“ask” in American English

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askverb

us ​ /æsk/

ask verb (QUESTION OR REQUEST)

› [ I/T ] to state a question to someone, or to request something from someone:

[ T ] Can I ask you a question?
[ T ] If you are asking me if I was foolish, yes, I was foolish.
[ + question word ] We kept asking why he had done it.
[ + question word ] He asked how much the necklace cost.
[ I ] He asked for more time to repay the loan.
[ T ] You should ask your lawyer for advice.
[ T ] I’d like to ask your advice on a financial matter.
[ + to infinitive ] I asked to see my accountant.
"How much time do we have left?" he asked.
[ I ] Our neighbors are selling their house, but I don’t know how much they’re asking for it (= how much they want for it).

ask verb (INVITE)

› [ T ] to invite someone to go somewhere:

"Are you going to Michelle’s party?" "No, I haven’t been asked."
Megan’s asked us over for dinner next Friday.

Idiom(s)

asking for trouble

Phrasal verb(s)

ask someone out
ask around

(Definition of “ask” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“ask” in Business English

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askverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ɑːsk/ us ​

› to state the price that you want for something that you are selling:

ask sth for sth What is he asking for his share of the business?
ask sb for interview

› HR to ask someone to come and see you so that you can give them an interview for a job:

Of the 150 candidates, we asked six for interview.
ask sb to leave

› HR to make someone leave their job:

be asked to leave They said I had breached confidentiality rules, and I was asked to leave.
See also
dismiss

Phrasal verb(s)

ask sb back

(Definition of “ask” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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