ask 
ask (ask, äsk)
transitive verb
- to use words in seeking the answer to (a question); try to find out about by inquiring
- to put a question to (a person); inquire of
- to request; solicit; beg
- to demand or expect as a price they ask ten dollars for it
- to be in need of or call for (a thing)
- to invite
Etymology: ME askien < OE āscian < IE base *ais-, to wish, desire > Sans iccháti, (he) seeks, OHG eiscōn, inquire, demand
intransitive verb
- to request information
- to make a request (for)
- to inquire (about, after, or for)
- to behave in such a way that one appears to be looking (for trouble, punishment, etc.)
ask
v.
To inquire
request, query, question, inquire, interrogate, examine, cross-examine, demand, make a request, raise a question, pose a question, call for, apply for, file for, angle for, frame a question, require an answer, want to know, catechize, make inquiry, make application, apply to, order, command, requisition, direct, put questions to, institute an inquiry, enjoin, bid, charge, petition, call upon, invite, urge, pray, beg leave, challenge, pry into, probe, scour, investigate, quiz, sound out, draw out, grill*, dun*, put the screws on*, turn the heat on*, put the bite on*, put the bee on*, pump*, give the third degree*, worm out of*; see also question 1.To solicit
request, entreat, supplicate; see beg 1.To expect
To invite
ask and the more formal inquire and query usually denote no more than the seeking of an answer or information, but query also often implies doubt as to the correctness of something the printer queried the spelling of several words; question and interrogate imply the asking of a series of questions to question a witness, interrogate adding the further implication of systematic, often extensive, official examination to interrogate a prisoner of war; catechize also denotes close questioning, but implies the expectation of certain fixed answers, esp. with reference to religious doctrine; quiz, used esp. in schools, implies a short, selective questioning to test factual knowledge of some subject
Preposition: for
- clarification: If you are unsure, restate the question or ask for a clarification.
- help: Helen phoned up and asked for help as I had nowhere to go for help with my severe panic attacks and depression.
- forgiveness: More importantly, Jack had been able to ask for forgiveness, for failing to be the lover he should have been.
- donation: Two ministers wrote a letter to The Inquirer asking for donations toward a pilot scheme.
Object
- question: He asked the question along the lines of " I charge a company £ 1000 for a training course.
- pupil: Ask pupils, as a class, what sorts of things bring memories to mind?
- permission: They ask permission to enter or leave the shrine of the saint.
- someone: When I ask someone for shipping details I expect them to reply.
- price: We managed to get a few thousands off the asking price.
Used with why or when
- why: Mr Woodcock asked why noise testing had not been made public.
- what: Becky was asked what she would want to bring to the job.
- who: A letter to the editor asks who made the decision to close the coffee shop in the Central Library.
- where: During a speech near Houston, Bush was asked where he stood on the " Liberty Amendments.
- which: I do not ask primarily which decoration is beautiful or what makes for a good shape.
- when: The evening proved to be very enjoyable and a number of people asked when the next such event would be held.
Infinitive complement
- speak: Ask to speak with the civil servants developing the proposals.
- submit: Through a national campaign, the UK public has been asked to submit images of freshwater sites local to them.
- confirm: You will be asked to confirm that you wish to accept the download.
- complete: You may be asked to complete a simple form or a member of staff may enter details directly onto the library computer system.
Preposition: at
- desk: If you are still having problems, ask at the inquiry desk.
Why were they proud? again we ask aloud, Why in the name of Glory were they proud?
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one 110 that askethreceiveth; and hethat seekethfindeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
The real pitch lake is simply about two hundred asphalt tennis courts, in very bad condition, set in the midst of somegently undulating greenmeadows.Iam inclined to ask for my money back.
For Love's sake, kiss me once again, I long, and should not beg in vain, Here's none to spy, or see; Why do you doubt, or stay? I'll taste as lightly as the Bee, That doth but touch his flower, and flies away. Once more, and (faith) I will be gone: Can he that loves, ask less than one?
Ask me no more: what answer should I give? I love not hollow cheek or faded eye: Yet,O my friend, I will not have thee die! Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live.
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what yourcountry can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.
To ask the hard question is simple.
If you still have to askshame on you.
We stand today on the edge of a new frontier. But the new frontierof which I speak isnot a set of promises.It is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride, not their pocketbooköit holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security.
Ask Nureyev to stop dancing, ask Sinatra to stop singing, then you can ask me to stop playing.
People do what you pay them to do, not what you ask them to do.
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