ask

verb

ˈask How to pronounce ask (audio)
Definition of asknext
1
as in to interrogate
to put a question or questions to my coworkers asked me all about my trip to Machu Picchu

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to request
to make a request of ask the salesclerk for assistance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to charge
to set or receive as a price they are only asking $300 for that antique grandfather clock

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to invite
to request the presence or participation of a fixture on the party circuit, that couple is always asking people over for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ask contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ask are inquire, interrogate, query, and question. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

In what contexts can inquire take the place of ask?

The words inquire and ask are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

When would interrogate be a good substitute for ask?

The synonyms interrogate and ask are sometimes interchangeable, but interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

When might query be a better fit than ask?

The words query and ask can be used in similar contexts, but query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

When is question a more appropriate choice than ask?

Although the words question and ask have much in common, question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ask The employee asked to have her name withheld due to concerns about maintaining her employment with the district. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026 Françoise is a receptionist at the local police station, where her beloved cousin Gilles patrols, and is unexpectedly asked to sketch the composite of an assailant. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026 Even schools like the Patrick Lyndon Pilot School in West Roxbury posted to social media, asking parents to help shovel out the recess area. —Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026 When Richardson returned on December 22, his deputy chief of staff, Janis Hartley, immediately emailed Groff asking about the status of the Epstein conversation with Crist. —Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ask
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ask
  1. interrogate
  2. request
  3. charge
  4. invite
  5. question
  6. demand
  7. quiz
Verb
  • Lubesnik is the one called to interrogate the first of several crime scenes in Crime 101, which will put him on an eventual collision course with Davis.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Moreover, sociology is one of the best empirical fields for interrogating the consequences of different values, for how ideas get built into institutions, for how social networks operate across domains.
    — Wendy Nelson Espeland, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of interrogate
Verb
  • Latvia skeleton coach Ivo Steinbergs told Reuters that a protest has been sent by his federation to the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) requesting Heraskevych’s reinstatement.
    — Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Braner requested deeper dives on the punishment that Rady is likely to face if forced to resume gender care, on which other hospitals in California have taken similar actions, and on the specific status of young patients affected by the program’s sudden shutdown.
    — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of request
Verb
  • Only one in almost 100 people charged under the national security law has ever been fully acquitted.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, has not been arrested or charged.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of charge
Verb
  • In 2018, Karp was invited for dinner with Epstein.
    — MEG KINNARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Quiet Bedding Simple bedding in striking colors and inviting textures will star in 2026.
    — Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of invite
Verb
  • The first inkling of the government questioning the DHS account came from the US Department of Justice.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The planned 90,000-square-foot project would represent the most significant change to the White House grounds in decades and is advancing even as it is challenged in court and questioned on Capitol Hill.
    — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of question
Verb
  • Multiple news outlets have reported receiving ransom notes, and the Guthrie family has expressed a willingness to pay — although it’s not known whether ransom notes demanding money with deadlines that have already passed were authentic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Berthelot/Getty Images Minimalist sandals with thick straps, a firm structure, and a practical sole are ideal for those who love practical but demanding fashion.
    — Alex Sales, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of demand
Verb
  • My son has spent his entire life in and out of clinics, where audiologists have gently poked at his tiny ears and quizzed him on his hearing range.
    — Hannah Silverman, Parents, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Hopefuls were quizzed on their visions for the company and views on such topics as teamwork and corporate culture.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of quiz

Phrases Containing ask

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askance
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Cite this Entry

“Ask.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ask. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ask for Spanish Speakers

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