ante

1 of 3

noun

an·​te ˈan-tē How to pronounce ante (audio)
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

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
Haley is no avatar of the status quo ante but proof of how debased the party of Abraham Lincoln has become in its thrall to Trump. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2023 O'Toole said the group has filed an ante litem notice in anticipation of a lawsuit, arguing that the changes are unlawful. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2024 To up the decadent ante, the fruit filling is sandwiched between a buttery, shortbread-like crust and a coconut-hazelnut crumble topping. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Jan. 2024 Just to up the style ante, Cartolina has added a small slit on the bottom of either side. Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2023 Starting November 24, the ante ups with free shipping on all orders (in addition to 25% off sitewide). November 10 to 27: Droplette is a cute hi-tech device that uses microinfusion technology to deliver potent serums into your skin more effectively. Sarah Han, Allure, 11 Nov. 2023 Saffron and Ginger Macaroons Coconut macaroons are a popular gluten-free treat, and this version ups the flavor ante by adding saffron and ginger to the mix. Kari Sonde, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2023 Once the ante got to $17.2 million, Petrovic said goodbye Foxborough, hello London. Frank Dell'apa, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023 From wedding cakes to fall color schemes of burgundy, orange, and marigold, there are simply oh-so-many ways to up the autumn ante of your celebration. Sarah Zlotnick, Country Living, 22 Aug. 2023
Verb
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 The Maverick’s famously low price — base models start at $22,195 — is a casualty of those additions, but plenty of buyers will ante up for the Tremor, and be delighted with the result. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 28 Apr. 2023 But banks could well face pressure to ante up, said Darrin Peller, an analyst at Wolfe Research. Peter Weber, The Week, 25 July 2023 But if the good times are going to keep rolling, Hollywood needs to ante up with compelling movies to keep audiences coming back to multiplexes. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 May 2023 Ross, for one, thinks Baltimore has to ante up, whatever the circumstances. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2023 That means, anything from t-shirts over joggers to hoodies over sweatpants to sweaters over jeans to just about your whole daily wardrobe rotation, can be anted up by dress sneakers. Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 7 Mar. 2023 Much like the Lightning went all in multiple times by trading high draft picks and prospects to load up for the best chance to win the Cup, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic was not afraid to ante up in March to acquire Lehkonen, defenseman Josh Manson and Cogliano. Dallas News, 27 June 2022 But what do petty money worries mean to Apple, which agreed to ante up for the version Scorsese and DiCaprio are determined to make? Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ante.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ante was in 1821

Dictionary Entries Near ante

Cite this Entry

“Ante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ante. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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"

More from Merriam-Webster on ante

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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