The phrasal verb "ask over" is most commonly used in informal contexts, often found in everyday conversations rather than formal writing or speeches. It refers to the act of inviting someone to one’s home or place of residence, usually for a social purpose such as a meal, gathering, or casual visit. Usage patterns show that it is typically employed when speaking about friends, family, or acquaintances rather than formal guests or business associates. In sentences, it frequently pairs with personal pronouns or names—"I asked her over for dinner last night." While "ask over" is specific to inviting people to one's own location, it shares similarities with other invitation-related phrasal verbs like "come over" or "have (someone) over," which are similarly informal and often used interchangeably in casual contexts.
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To invite someone to come to your home for a visit or meal.
I'm going to ask Mary over for dinner tomorrow night.
They asked their neighbors over for coffee to get to know them better.