[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/ask/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [A](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/a/) / ask # ask verb (ask, asks, asked, asking); noun (a big ask — slang: a hard thing to request) «ask» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To ask is to say a question so that you get an answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m1) 2. To ask is to say that you want something: ask for help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m2) 3. To ask someone to do something is to tell them politely that you want it done. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m3) 4. To ask someone to a party is to invite them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m4) 5. To ask a price is to say how much you want for something: they ask 5 dollars for it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m5) 6. (casual, UK, Australia) «A big ask» is something hard to expect: winning every game is a big ask. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m6) 7. (casual) «Don't ask» means the story is too bad or long to tell; «you asked for it» means it is your own fault. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m7) 8. (formal) The exam voice says «enquire», «request», «determine», «state» where a child would say «ask» or «find». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#m8) ### In the lessons what a question is really looking for («The question asks how many are left»); in class «ask the teacher», «ask a question», «put up your hand to ask»; in safety «ask a grown-up first», «ask for help»; in stories «asks for 3 more» is a request; phrases: ask for, ask around, ask out (ask on a date); in casual talk «don't ask», «you asked for it», «a big ask», «I'm only asking»; in the exam voice «Candidates are required to determine …», «enquire», «request» ### Examples - «How many more … than» and «how many fewer … than» both ask for the difference: subtract. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x1) - The question asks how many sweets are left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x2) - Sara asks her mum for 3 more beads. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x3) - Can I ask you a question? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x4) - If you get lost, ask a police officer for help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x5) - Mum asked me to tidy my room. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x6) - Ben asked six friends to his birthday party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x7) - Always ask before you borrow something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x8) - «How was the trip?» «Don't ask. The car broke down twice.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x9) - You poked the cat, so you asked for it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x10) - 20 laps before lunch? That's a big ask. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x11) - Candidates are requested to state the number of beads in Sara's possession subsequent to her mother's provision of 3 further beads. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x12) - "Who's there?" asked the old lady. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x13) ### Note Look at what the question asks, not at single words: «more» can ask for a difference. Trap: in a story «asks for 3 more» is a request, not yet a change; only «gets 3 more» changes the count. «Don't ask» is not a question to answer; it means the speaker had a bad time. Past form «asked». «ask someone something» and «ask for something». «enquire» and «request» are the formal words; «determine» and «state» in an exam mean «work out» and «write the answer». ## In Jewish tradition what a question is really looking for («The question asks how many are left»); in class «ask the teacher», «ask a question», «put up your hand to ask»; in safety «ask a grown-up first», «ask for help»; in stories «asks for 3 more» is a request; phrases: ask for, ask around, ask out (ask on a date); in casual talk «don't ask», «you asked for it», «a big ask», «I'm only asking»; in the exam voice «Candidates are required to determine …», «enquire», «request» ### Examples - And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?' (Torah GEN.37.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x1) - And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? (Torah GEN.24.47, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x2) - My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother? (Torah GEN.44.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x3) - And when the king asked the woman, she told him. (Prophets 2KI.8.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x4) - Or who shall turn aside to ask of thy welfare? (Prophets JER.15.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x5) - And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. (Prophets 1KI.3.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x6) ### Note Look at what the question asks, not at single words: «more» can ask for a difference. Trap: in a story «asks for 3 more» is a request, not yet a change; only «gets 3 more» changes the count. «Don't ask» is not a question to answer; it means the speaker had a bad time. Past form «asked». «ask someone something» and «ask for something». «enquire» and «request» are the formal words; «determine» and «state» in an exam mean «work out» and «write the answer». ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «ask» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«ask» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ask.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «ask» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«ask» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/ask.html) on Mova free.