ask

verb (asked; asking) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English āscian; akin to Old High German eiscōn to ask, Lithuanian eiškoti to seek, Sanskrit icchati he seeks Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to call on for an answer <

she asked him about his trip

> b. to put a question about <

asking her whereabouts

> c. speak, utter <

ask a question

> 2. a. to make a request of <

she asked her teacher for help

> b. to make a request for <

she asked help from her teacher

> 3. to call for ; require <

a challenge that will ask much of us

> 4. to set as a price <

asked $3000 for the car

> 5. invite intransitive verb 1. to seek information 2. to make a request <

asked for food

> 3. look — often used in the phrase ask for trouble • asker noun Synonyms: ask, question, interrogate, query, inquire mean to address a person in order to gain information. ask implies no more than the putting of a question <

ask for directions

>. question usually suggests the asking of series of questions <

questioned them about every detail of the trip

>. interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning <

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

>. query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation <

queried a librarian about the book

>. inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions <

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

>. Synonyms: ask, request, solicit mean to seek to obtain by making one's wants known. ask implies no more than the statement of the desire <

ask a favor of a friend

>. request implies greater formality and courtesy <

requests the pleasure of your company

>. solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement <

a letter soliciting information

>.