ante

1 of 3

noun

an·​te ˈan-tē 

1

: a poker stake usually put up before the deal to build the pot

The dealer called for a dollar ante.

2

a

: cost, price

These improvements would raise the ante.

b

: risk, stakes

The new law ups the ante on tax cheats.

c

: a level (as of achievement or intensity) regarded especially as a goal or standard

a film that ups the ante on special effects

ante

2 of 3

verb

anted; anteing

transitive verb

: to put up (an ante)

also : pay, produce

—usually used with up

had to ante up five thousand dollars to attend the senator's banquet

intransitive verb

: pay up

—usually used with up

The dealer waited until everyone had anted up before he dealt the cards.

ante-

3 of 3

prefix

1

a

: prior : earlier

antedate

b

: anterior : forward

anteroom

2

: prior to : earlier than

antediluvian

Synonyms

Noun

• charge
• cost
• damage
• fee
• figure
• freight
• price
• price tag

Verb

• balance
• clear
• discharge
• foot
• liquidate
• meet
• pay
• pay off
• pay up
• pony up
• quit
• recompense
• settle
• spring (for)
• stand

Examples of ante in a Sentence

Noun

the base price is $500, but any additional repairs will up the ante

Verb

Did everyone at the table ante?

Everyone anted up a dollar.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Las Vegas has always been big on one-off spectacles, from heavyweight fights to stunts to special events, and this remains the case, but the ante has been upped with the growth of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), often holding the biggest bouts here, and made for TV pro golf events such as The Match. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Nothing coaxes men into upping the sartorial ante quite like reading those words on an invitation. —Tom Stubbs, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2024

Verb

The Sixers could ante up $50 million to Philadelphia for investments and other pledges in exchange for building a new downtown arena, per terms of a deal Mayor Cherelle Parker unveiled on Wednesday. —Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024

On the other side of the ball, the Ravens just need to ante up and pay defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, who could command $20 million per year. —Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Latin ante "before, preceding" — more at ante-

Verb

verbal derivative of ante entry 1

Prefix

Middle English, from Latin, from ante before, in front of; akin to Old English and- against, Greek anti before, against — more at end

First Known Use

Noun

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1831, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing ante

• ante meridiem
• ante-post
• penny ante
• raise the ante
• status quo ante
• up the ante

Kids Definition

ante-

prefix

1

a

: prior : earlier

antedate

b

: before or toward the front : forward

anteroom

2

: prior to : earlier than

antediluvian

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin ante "before, in front"