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Definition and meaning of English word "ask"

ask

/ɑːsk/

Meaning

Verb

To request or petition. To request (information, or an answer to a question).

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

The verb 'ask' is often used in formal and informal contexts to request information or an action. A common mistake is to use 'ask' with a direct object and an infinitive without 'to', which is incorrect. For example, 'I asked him come' is incorrect; instead, use 'I asked him to come'.

🇬🇧 English

ask

Example

I ask you

She will ask him

Your personal vocabulary

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Synonyms

requestpetitioninquire

Common phrases

  • ask a question— ask a question
  • ask for help— ask for help
  • ask someone to do something— ask someone to do something

More Core Verbs words

Frequency rank: #378 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "ask" mean?▼

The English word "ask" means "ask" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "ask"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "ask" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "ask"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "I ask you" (which translates as "ask").

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