English verb: ask | |||
1. | ask (communication) inquire about | ||
Samples | I asked about their special today. He had to ask directions several times. | ||
Examples | They ask whether there was a traffic accident | ||
Synonyms | enquire, inquire | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s somebody something. Somebody ----s somebody PP. Somebody ----s PP. Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | communicate, intercommunicate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | confer with, consult, pry | ||
Verb group | ask, ask | ||
2. | ask (communication) make a request or demand for something to somebody | ||
Samples | She asked him for a loan. | ||
Examples | They ask him to write the letter | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something from somebody. Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE. Somebody ----s that CLAUSE. Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bespeak, call for, quest, request | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | request, solicit | ||
3. | ask (communication) direct or put; seek an answer to | ||
Samples | Ask a question. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | articulate, formulate, give voice, phrase, word | ||
Verb group | ask, enquire, inquire | ||
4. | ask (communication) consider obligatory; request and expect | ||
Samples | We require our secretary to be on time. Aren't we asking too much of these children?. I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons. | ||
Examples | They ask him to write the letter | ||
Synonyms | expect, require | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something from somebody. Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | demand | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | call | ||
5. | ask (communication) address a question to and expect an answer from | ||
Samples | Ask your teacher about trigonometry. The children asked me about their dead grandmother. | ||
Examples | They ask them the information | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | address, turn to | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | interrogate, query, question, question | ||
Verb group | ask, enquire, inquire | ||
6. | ask (stative) require as useful, just, or proper | ||
Samples | It takes nerve to do what she did. Success usually requires hard work. This job asks a lot of patience and skill. This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice. This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert. This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent. | ||
Synonyms | call for, demand, involve, necessitate, need, postulate, require, take | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | claim, compel, cost, cry for, cry out for, draw, exact, govern, take | ||
Verb group | claim, exact, take | ||
Antonyms | obviate, rid of, eliminate | ||
7. | ask (communication) require or ask for as a price or condition | ||
Samples | He is asking $200 for the table. The kidnappers are asking a million dollars in return for the release of their hostage. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | demand | ||