What does "ask" mean?

1. (to pose a question) to say something to get an answer or information. 2. (to request something) to tell someone you want something or want them to do something. 3. (to invite) to invite someone to an event or to your home. 4. (to demand a price) to say what price you want for something you are selling. 5. (a request) a request or something that you want someone to do. 6. (social media message) a message or question sent to someone on a social media blog.

ask

Q: Is it correct to say "I asked to him a question"?

No — say "I asked him a question". Ask is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'to' before the person being addressed.

US //ˈæsk// UK //ˈɑːsk// ask

1 to pose a question (v.)
A1 Beginner

to say something to get an answer or information.

to utter or address a question to someone in order to elicit information.

Example

If you don't know the way to the station, just ask a local.

Example

The journalist asked the minister several pointed questions regarding the sudden shift in fiscal policy during the press conference.
2 to request something (v.)
A1 Beginner

to tell someone you want something or want them to do something.

to make a request or petition for an object, service, or favour.

Example

I had to ask my boss for a day off to go to the dentist.

Example

The charity asked for donations to support the families affected by the recent flooding in the valley.

Show 4 more sensesShow fewer

3 to invite (v.)
A2 Elementary

to invite someone to an event or to your home.

to invite someone to a social occasion or to a specific location.

Example

They decided to ask all their neighbours to the garden party.

Example

She was hesitant to ask her colleagues to the wedding, fearing it might blur the lines between her professional and private life.
- invite
- summon
4 to demand a price (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to say what price you want for something you are selling.

to expect or state a specific sum as a price for goods or services.

Example

They are asking five hundred dollars a month for the small room.

Example

The gallery is asking a significant premium for the sculpture, citing its provenance and the artist's recent rise in popularity.
- charge
- demand
5 a request (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

a request or something that you want someone to do.

a request or a task required of someone, often used to describe the difficulty of the demand.

Example

Finishing the whole project by tomorrow is a big ask.

Example

Expecting the team to double their output without additional resources was a massive ask that led to significant burnout.
6 social media message (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Internet

a message or question sent to someone on a social media blog.

an inquiry or message submitted to a user's profile on a social networking platform, typically for public response.

Example

She spent the evening answering anonymous asks on her blog.

Example

The influencer's inbox was flooded with asks regarding her skincare routine following the viral video.
- message
- query

Usage

The verb is transitive; when requesting an object, it typically takes the preposition 'for' ('ask for a glass of water').

Pitfall

I asked to him a questionI asked him a questionAsk is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'to' before the person being addressed.

Idioms7 entries