# ask out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ask-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to invite someone to go on a date with you because you like them.

For teachers: to invite someone to a social engagement, such as a meal or a movie, specifically to initiate a romantic relationship.

## Examples

- He finally found the courage to ask her out.
- If you really like him, you should just ask him out for a coffee this weekend.
- Despite his usual confidence in professional settings, he felt uncharacteristically nervous when he decided to ask her out after the conference.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I asked out her." but "I asked her out." — while you can say 'ask out [name]', with pronouns like 'her', the object must come between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- the object (the person being invited) usually goes between 'ask' and 'out'.
- Teaching tip: this is a transitive separable phrasal verb; emphasize that when using a pronoun like 'him' or 'her', it must go in the middle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.