rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryaskRequest
verb / noun

ask

ASK/æsk/

Something requested from another person.

She asks her dinner companion to pass the salt beside his plate.

At a simple dining table, a woman requests the salt from a man: she looks expectantly at him, holding one palm upward while indicating the salt shaker beside his plate.
Etymology
askOld Englishto ask, request

Old English ascian already covered both calling for an answer and making a request. That breadth survives in asking a question, asking permission, or asking someone for a favor.

In context

Oneindia News24:47
have are the insults that you have lobbed at every single opportunity you have. >> Okay. No, that's it. Cross-examination is just a question and answer. [cheering] Your turn to ask a question.
LIVE: Mamdani Accuses Cuomo of Se**ally Harassing Over a Dozen Women, Brings Accuser in Audience

More examples

  • May I ask a question?
  • That is a big ask for such a small team.
  • The seller asks two hundred dollars for the bicycle.

Forms

ask · asks · asked · asking

Similar words

request
More formal than ask in most contexts.