EXHIBIT 99.2


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       ASK JEEVES, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF DIRECT HIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 Ask Jeeves adds popularity-based, automated search to expand suite of customer
                  targeting, conversion and retention services

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., FEBRUARY 10, 2000 -Ask Jeeves, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASKJ), a
leading provider of question answering services for consumers and companies on
the Web, today announced that it has completed its previously announced
acquisition of privately-held Direct Hit Technologies, Inc., a provider of
award-winning, automated search technology. The acquisition, a tax-free,
stock-for-stock transaction of approximately 5.1 million currently unregistered
shares, represents approximately 12 percent pro-forma ownership of Ask Jeeves on
a fully-diluted, treasury stock basis. The acquisition closed on February 3,
2000.

         The acquisition adds popularity-based, automated search technology to
the suite of services Ask Jeeves provides to companies seeking to target,
acquire and retain customers. Ask Jeeves intends to use Direct Hit's
popularity-based search, shopping, and directory engines to help companies
provide a broader and more relevant set of answers to their customers. Ask
Jeeves intends to make Direct Hit's Search and Shopping Engines, and
Personalized and Related Search products available for site specific,
multi-site, and Internet-wide applications, permitting companies to use Direct
Hit's popularity-based technology to supplement their existing search
capabilities or to integrate Direct Hit's line of search, shopping and directory
products as a complete solution. In order to manage a range of online customer
communication for e-commerce and e-support, companies can choose to integrate
Direct Hit's technologies with Ask Jeeves' natural-language question answering,
intelligent advisor and live help services.

ABOUT ASK JEEVES, INC.

         Ask Jeeves provides natural-language question answering services for
consumers and companies on the Web by allowing users to ask questions in plain
English and be directed to relevant answers. The Corporate Service provides
natural-language question answering,



intelligent advisor, live help technologies, popularity-based automated
search, and reporting analytics to help companies increase sales, reduce
support costs and improve customer loyalty by providing superior customer
service online. The Consumer Question Answering Service at Ask.com makes it
easier for consumers to quickly find relevant information, products and
services online. For more information visit http://www.ask.com or call
510/985-7400.


                                      # # #

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, including those relating to the company's ability to provide
services to corporations that lead to higher conversion rates, increased
ecommerce revenues, increased online transactions, the company's ability to
deliver increased value to its shareholders, and the ability to successfully
integrate Direct Hit products, services and staff into the Company. Results or
events discussed may differ materially from actual future events or results.
Readers are referred to the documents filed by Ask Jeeves, specifically its S-1
registration statement and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 1999, which identify important risk factors such as the Company's
limited operating history, history of losses and anticipation of continued
losses, potential volatility of quarterly operating results, and other risks
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ask Jeeves, Ask Jeeves for Kids and Ask.com are trademarks and/or service marks
of Ask Jeeves, Inc. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of
their respective owners.