noun
Very common
asking
AHS-kihng
Asking (noun) means the act of making a request or posing a question. Example: “There is no harm in asking if you are unsure of the answer.”
noun
1
The act of making a request or posing a question.
"There is no harm in asking if you are unsure of the answer."
"Her constant asking of questions made the lesson lively and interesting."
"If someone asks for love he will not get love, because the very asking makes him unlovely, ugly; the very fact of asking becomes the barrier."
— Osho, Meditation: The Art of Ecstasy (2023)
"Just for the asking, they gave us a discount."
"His asking was greeted with silence."
2
A price that a seller states they want for something (used especially in "asking price").
"The house sold for well below the asking price."
"They lowered their asking price after nobody came to view the flat."
"What is the asking price for that second-hand bike in the window?"
How to use asking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act of requesting something, or the price a seller names for it.
Common pairings
asking price
for the asking
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Word forms
- Plural
- askings
- Comparative
- more asking
- Superlative
- most asking
Fill the gap
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There is no harm in _____ if you are unsure of the answer.
Etymology
This word came into English as Middle English askinge or askande, which developed from Old English āsciende, itself from Proto-West Germanic *aiskōndī, the present participle of Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn (“to ask”). It is equivalent to ask + -ing.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for asking
See all rhymes for asking →Frequently asked questions
What does “asking” mean?
The word “asking” means the act of making a request or posing a question. In plain terms, the act of requesting something, or the price a seller names for it.
How do you pronounce “asking”?
“Asking” is pronounced AHS-kihng (/ˈæskɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “asking” in a sentence?
Here is “asking” used in a sentence: “Just for the asking, they gave us a discount.”
What part of speech is “asking”?
“Asking” is a noun.
Is “asking” a common word?
“Asking” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “asking” have?
“Asking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of making a request or posing a question.
What does 'for the asking' mean?
The phrase 'for the asking' means something is available easily and freely: all you have to do is request it. If a job is yours 'for the asking', you can have it simply by asking, with no struggle or payment needed. It stresses how little effort the request requires.
What is an asking price?
An asking price is the amount a seller says they want for something, especially a house or a car. It is the starting figure, not necessarily the final one, and buyers often negotiate below it. The term comes from 'asking' in the sense of requesting: it is the price the seller is asking for.
What is the difference between asking and telling?
Asking is making a request or posing a question: you seek information or a response and leave the other person free to answer. Telling is giving information or an instruction: you state something or direct someone to act. Asking invites a reply; telling delivers one.
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