ask for vs ask

ask for and ask both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
ask for	No	No	Yes	No
ask	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, ask is a hyponym of ask for; that is, ask is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than ask for:

ask for (verb)	ask (verb)
express the need or desire for	make a request or demand for something to somebody
increase the likelihood of	direct or put; seek an answer to
	address a question to and expect an answer from
	consider obligatory; request and expect
	require or ask for as a price or condition
	make a date
	require as useful, just, or proper