# ask

Pronunciation: US say "ASK" /ˈæsk/; UK say "AHSK" /ˈɑːsk/

## Verb

1. To put a question to someone, or say or write a question, in order to get information or an answer.
   - Simple: To say or write a question to someone because you want to know something.
   - _Why don't you ask what happened?_
   - _He called the store to ask when his order would arrive._
2. To say that you want someone to do something or to give you something, often followed by for, as in ask for a raise.
   - Simple: To tell someone you would like them to do something or give you something.
   - _Did they ask you to sign anything?_
   - _She plans to ask her manager for a raise after the review._
3. To seek someone's consent or leave before doing something.
   - Simple: To say you want to be allowed to do something.
   - _Children should ask to leave the table._
   - _He asked to be excused from the meeting._
4. To invite someone to come to an occasion or place.
   - Simple: To invite someone to come along.
   - _Shall we ask the Smiths to dinner?_
   - _He was asked to every party in the county._
5. To require, demand or expect, as payment or as a matter of necessity.
   - Simple: To want or expect something from someone, such as a price or effort.
   - _The job asks a great deal of anyone who takes it._
   - _You cannot ask more of a beginner._
8. Used to point to a person or group whose experience or expert knowledge would confirm what has just been said.
   - Simple: Used to point to someone whose experience or knowledge would show that what you just said is true.
   - _Rushing a launch costs more later, ask any engineer._
   - _A bad review can sink a restaurant, just ask the owner._

## Noun

6. The price at which a seller offers something.
   - Simple: The price a seller wants for something.
   - _Traders watch the gap between bid and ask._
   - _Our ask is firm, the seller said._
7. A request, or the act of asking for something, especially for money or support; a big ask is a lot to expect of someone. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Something that you ask someone to do or give you.
   - _The union's main ask was a shorter week._
   - _Their asks were reasonable and the council agreed._

## Verb

9. To publish in church for marriage, said both of the banns and of the couple. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: In church, to make public that two people plan to marry.

## Other meanings

- (noun) On Tumblr, a message sent to a blog, which the recipient can post and reply to publicly.
- (noun) In Scottish and other British dialects, a newt or eft, or a lizard.

## Origin

From Middle English asken, from Old English āscian, from Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂eys- ("to wish; request"). It is related to Dutch eisen ("to demand"), German heischen ("to ask, implore"), and Sanskrit iccháti.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/ask (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).