# asked

/ˈæskt/ (US) · /ˈɑːskt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/asked
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. requested information

verb · CEFR A1

the past form of 'ask' used when you wanted to know something.

For teachers: the past tense of 'ask' used to indicate a prior inquiry or request for information.

- I asked the teacher for help with the difficult math problem.
- The journalist asked several probing questions during the press conference, but the spokesperson refused to provide a direct answer.

### 2. invited

verb · CEFR A2

the past form of 'ask' used when you invited someone to an event.

For teachers: the past tense of 'ask' used to denote a prior invitation to a social gathering or event.

- They asked us to their wedding, but we were already busy that weekend.
- The hosts asked several prominent local artists to the gallery opening to ensure the event received sufficient media coverage.

### 3. bothered or willing

adjective · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Dialect

a slang word used to say you are willing to do something or can be bothered to try.

For teachers: a dialectal variant of 'arsed', used in negative constructions to indicate a lack of motivation or willingness to perform a task.

- I couldn't be asked to cook dinner, so I just ordered a pizza.
- He admitted he couldn't be asked to finish the report on a Friday afternoon, preferring to leave it for Monday morning.

Usage: Almost always used in the negative phrase 'couldn't be asked'.

Teaching tip: This is a polite euphemism for 'couldn't be arsed' in British English; it is very informal and should be avoided in professional writing.

## Examples

- She asked me for the time.
- The manager asked the team to submit their reports by the end of the day.
- When the journalist asked about the missing funds, the spokesperson declined to comment, citing an ongoing internal investigation that prevented any public disclosure.

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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.