This is the 15223rd most frequent Russian word.
попросили
"Попросили" means "asked" or "requested" in English.
This usage specifies that an undefined party requested something of him in a formal or indirect manner.
Его попросили подождать в коридоре.
He was asked to wait in the corridor.
Here, 'попросили' is used in the past tense to imply that someone conveyed a request directed at the subject (me).
Меня попросили помочь с уборкой.
I was asked to help with the cleaning.
In this sentence, 'попросили' indicates that the subject (we) exerted a request directed toward another party (them).