Petitions (for) are formal written requests made to a government, organization, or individual, asking for a specific action to be taken. They are often used to raise awareness of a particular issue and to encourage people to take action. Asks (4 letters) is another word for petitions, as it is the act of requesting something from someone. Petitions are often signed by many people in order to show support for a cause or to demonstrate the strength of public opinion.