Phrase guide

ask for

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To request; to order.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I asked for a glass of water.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To increase the likelihood of something by persisting in some action; to invite.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • If you keep on speeding, you are asking for trouble.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

increase the likelihood of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • ask for trouble
  • invite criticism

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: invite

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, fire, raise, provoke

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

38 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: سَأَلَ (saʔala) — request
  • Arabic: طَلَبَ (ṭalaba) — request
  • Arabic: طلب (ṭalab) — request
  • Arabic: طلب (ṭálab) — request
  • Azerbaijani: istəmək — request
  • Azerbaijani: xahiş etmək — request
  • Basque: eskatu — request
  • Catalan: demanar — request
  • Czech: požádat o — request
  • Egyptian: d:bH-b-H-A2 (dbḥ) — request
  • Esperanto: peti — request
  • Estonian: paluma — request
  • Finnish: pyytää — request
  • French: demander — request
  • Greek: ζητώ (zitó) — request
  • Ancient Greek: αἰτέω (aitéō) — request
  • Hebrew: ביקש (bikésh) — request
  • Hungarian: kér — request
  • Italian: chiedere — request
  • Lao: ຂໍ (khǭ) — request
  • Latin: petō — request
  • Latin: poscō — request
  • Latin: requīrō — request
  • Latvian: lūgt — request
  • Latvian: prasīt — request
  • Old Saxon: ābiddian — request
  • Persian: درخواست کردن — request
  • Portuguese: pedir — request
  • Quechua: mañay — request
  • Russian: проси́ть (prosítʹ) — request
  • Russian: попроси́ть (poprosítʹ) — request
  • Spanish: pedir — request
  • Swedish: fråga efter — request
  • Turkish: istemek — request
  • Chinese Cantonese: 搏 (bok3) — to invite upon oneself
  • Spanish: buscárselo — to invite upon oneself
  • Russian: напра́шиваться (naprášivatʹsja) — to invite upon oneself
  • Russian: напроси́ться (naprosítʹsja) — to invite upon oneself