Ask
Definition
Ask is a verb that means to request information or seek an answer from someone. It can also refer to making a request or inviting someone to do something.
Parts of Speech
- Verb
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /æsk/
- Respelling: ASK
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɑːsk/
- Respelling: AH-SK
Etymology
The word "ask" originates from the Old English "ascian," meaning "to call for" or "to demand." This term is related to the Old Norse "eskja" and has been in use since before the 12th century, carrying the general meaning of seeking information or making requests.
Derivatives
- Asked (verb)
- Asking (verb/noun)
- Asker (noun)
- Askable (adjective)
- Reask (verb)
Synonyms
- Inquire
- Request
- Question
Antonyms
- Answer
- Tell
- Inform
Usage
The term "ask" is frequently used in conversational and formal settings when someone is requesting information, clarification, or a favor. For example, "She decided to ask her professor for help," or "He asked if he could join the team."
Related Terms
- Inquiry: The act of asking for information.
- Petition: A formal request or appeal.
- Request: An act of asking for something to be given or done.
Detailed Definitions
Verb
- To request information or seek an answer: Refers to seeking knowledge, answers, or facts from someone else.
- Example: "She asked what time the meeting would start."
- To make a request or petition for something: Used when someone is requesting an action, favor, or object.
- Example: "He asked for a day off to attend the wedding."
- To invite someone to do something: Refers to requesting someone's participation or presence in an activity or event.
- Example: "They asked her to speak at the conference."
ask
When I didn't understand the new math concept, I decided to ask the teacher for clarification.
Can you ask John if he wants to come to the party with us?
Feeling lost in the massive library, John decided to ask the librarian for help.
🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese
- Ask (inquire) - 问 (wèn)
- IPA: /wən˨˩˦/
- English Respelling: wen
- Ask (request) - 要求 (yāoqiú)
- IPA: /jaʊtɕhjoʊ/
- English Respelling: yaouchiou
🇮🇳 Hindi
- Ask (inquire) - पूछना (pūchnā)
- IPA: /puːt͡ʃ.naː/
- English Respelling: pooch-na
- Ask (request) - मांगना (māngnā)
- IPA: /maːŋɡnaː/
- English Respelling: maa-ng-naa
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Ask (inquire) - preguntar
- IPA: /pɾeɣunˈtar/
- English Respelling: preh-gun-tar
- Ask (request) - pedir
- IPA: /peˈðiɾ/
- English Respelling: peh-deer
🇫🇷 French
- Ask (inquire) - demander
- IPA: /də.mɑ̃.de/
- English Respelling: deh-mahn-de
- Ask (request) - demander
- IPA: /də.mɑ̃.de/
- English Respelling: deh-mahn-de
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- Ask (inquire) - يسأل (yus'al)
- IPA: /juˈsʔal/
- English Respelling: yoo-sal
- Ask (request) - يطلب (yatlob)
- IPA: /jaːtˤalab/
- English Respelling: yaa-ta-lab
🇧🇩 Bengali
- Ask (inquire) - জিজ্ঞাসা (jigyāsā)
- IPA: /d͡ʒid͡ʒ.ɲa.sa/
- English Respelling: jidj-na-sa
- Ask (request) - অনুরোধ (onurodh)
- IPA: /ɔnurɔd̪ʰ/
- English Respelling: onu-ro-dh
🇷🇺 Russian
- Ask (inquire) - спрашивать (sprashivat')
- IPA: /ˈsprʌ.ʂɨ.vətʲ/
- English Respelling: spruh-shee-vat
- Ask (request) - просить (prosit')
- IPA: /prɐˈsʲitʲ/
- English Respelling: pro-see-t
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Ask (inquire) - perguntar
- IPA: /pɨɾ.ɣũ.ˈtaɾ/
- English Respelling: per-goon-tar
- Ask (request) - pedir
- IPA: /pɨ.ˈdiɾ/
- English Respelling: peh-deer
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Ask (inquire) - bertanya
- IPA: /bər'tanja/
- English Respelling: ber-tan-ya
- Ask (request) - meminta
- IPA: /mə'minta/
- English Respelling: meh-min-ta
🇩🇪 German
- Ask (inquire) - fragen
- IPA: /ˈfʁaːɡən/
- English Respelling: frah-gen
- Ask (request) - bitten
- IPA: /ˈbɪtən/
- English Respelling: bit-ten
🇯🇵 Japanese
- Ask (inquire) - 聞く (kiku)
- IPA: /ki.kɯ̟̊/
- English Respelling: kee-ku
- Ask (request) - 頼む (tanomu)
- IPA: /ta.no.mɯ̟̊/
- English Respelling: ta-no-moo
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Ask (inquire) - hỏi
- IPA: /hɔj˧˧/
- English Respelling: hoy
- Ask (request) - yêu cầu
- IPA: /jɛw˨˩ ka:w˧˧/
- English Respelling: yehw cow
🇰🇷 Korean
- Ask (inquire) - 묻다 (mudda)
- IPA: /mut̚/
- English Respelling: moot
- Ask (request) - 청하다 (cheonghada)
- IPA: /t͡ɕʰʌ̹ŋ.ha.da/
- English Respelling: chuhng-ha-da
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Ask (inquire) - sormak
- IPA: /soɾˈmak/
- English Respelling: sor-mak
- Ask (request) - istemek
- IPA: /isˈte.mek/
- English Respelling: is-te-mek
🇵🇰 Urdu
- Ask (inquire) - پوچھنا (pūchnā)
- IPA: /puːt͡ʃ.naː/
- English Respelling: pooch-na
- Ask (request) - مانگنا (māngnā)
- IPA: /maːŋɡnaː/
- English Respelling: maa-ng-naa
