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ask out

A2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To ask someone if they want to go somewhere with you because you like them.

Literal meaning: To ask someone to go out (of a place or together to an outside location).

Meanings

1 A2 idiomatic informal

To invite someone to go on a romantic date.

"He finally worked up the courage to ask her out after months of admiring her from afar."

"I asked her out and she said no."

— Common conversational usage, widely attested in popular media
Grammar: separable
2 B1 informal

To invite someone (not necessarily romantically) to go out somewhere, such as for a meal or drinks.

"The whole team was asked out for celebratory drinks after the project launch."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Almost always used in romantic contexts. The object (the person being invited) goes between 'ask' and 'out' or after 'out': 'ask her out' or 'ask out the new colleague'. Common in both American and British English. The phrase 'ask out on a date' is a frequent full form.

Commonly used with

date dinner drinks courage finally nervously

Forms

Base
ask out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
asks out
he/she/it
Past simple
asked out
yesterday
Past participle
asked out
have + pp
-ing form
asking out
continuous

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