Word
asking
Phoneticsask·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæskɪŋ/
UK/ˈɑːskɪŋ/
Definitions
01posing a question
A1 · Beginner
v. the action of putting a question to someone to get information.
v. the present participle of 'ask', used in progressive tenses to indicate the act of questioning or requesting.
“She is asking the teacher for help with her math homework.”
“The journalists were persistently asking the spokesperson about the sudden shift in policy during the morning press conference.”
Usage
often followed by 'for' when requesting an object or 'about' when seeking information.
Synonyms
02the act of requesting
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the process of making a request or a demand.
n. the act or process of making a request, often used as a gerund.
“The job is yours for the asking if you really want it.”
“Success in this industry is rarely just for the asking; it requires years of networking and significant financial investment.”
Usage
often appears in the phrase 'for the asking', meaning available if requested.
03expressing a question
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. showing that you are waiting for an answer or want to know something.
adj. describing a look, tone, or gesture that expresses a question or a request for information.
“He gave her an asking look when she stopped talking suddenly.”
“She turned toward him with an asking expression, silently prompting him to explain the discrepancy in the financial reports.”
Usage
usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English askinge, askande, from Old English āsciende, from Proto-West Germanic aiskōndī, present participle of Proto-West Germanic aiskōn (“to ask”), equivalent to ask + -ing.
From Middle English asking, askyng, askynge, from Old English āscung (“asking; question; inquiry”), from Proto-West Germanic *aiskungu, equivalent to ask + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/asking