ante

noun

an·te | \ ˈan-tē

Definition of ante

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a poker stake usually put up before the deal to build the pot The dealer called for a dollar ante.

2a : 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

verb

anted; anteing

Definition of ante (Entry 2 of 3)

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-

prefix

Definition of ante- (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : prior : earlier antedate

b : anterior : forward anteroom

2 : prior to : earlier than antediluvian

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about ante

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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

The couple has since added to this touching scene, upping the ante by including a glowing gargoyle, a vintage hearse with a beheading theme, a crone cradling a precociously horrifying popeyed infant. — Kevin Conley, Town & Country, "Welcome to the Neighborhood, Jeff Koons!," 31 Oct. 2014 The latest version of the Satisfyer, however, ups the ante even more. — Suzannah Weiss, Glamour, "This Extra-Powerful Sex Toy Is Almost Too Good," 28 Mar. 2019 Below, 7 mattress brands who are upping the ante in the art of sleep. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "7 New Online Mattress Companies That Want To Sweeten Your Dreams," 15 Feb. 2019 And new information this morning: Moscow is upping the anti -- ante in the response. — Fox News, "Rep. Ed Royce on US relations with Russia, Turkey and Iran; Rep. Devin Nunes on Bruce Ohr and the push to declassify DOJ documents," 12 Aug. 2018 But the platinum-selling group is also upping the ante on a musical level, using vignettes to help build a story into the show. — Alan Sculley, kansascity, "Imagine Dragons: ‘Evolve’ show is ‘the most complicated production’ they’ve done," 11 July 2018 While the dress was gorgeous on its own, the actress upped the ante on her outfit with matching red shoes and glitter makeup. — Alyssa Hardy, Teen Vogue, "Lili Reinhart Wore a Mullet Dress and Won the Golden Globes Red Carpet," 7 Jan. 2019 Hair painting innovations have upped the ante for getting the longest shelf life out of a dye job. — Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, "Hair "Shadowing" Is the Best Thing That's Happened to Fall Dye Jobs," 4 Nov. 2016 Now, however, the Trump administration aims to up the ante after Mr. Maduro last week defied international calls to resign and was sworn in for a new six-year term following a May re-election that some 60 countries deemed fraudulent. — Kejal Vyas, WSJ, "U.S. Considers Harshest Venezuela Sanctions Yet, on Oil," 14 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Vou sentir saudades das nossas resenhas antes dos jogos quando vc acertava o resultados e antes das finais nos tranquilizava com tua experiência e o carinho com os mais jovens! — SI.com, "Real Madrid Star Linked With Juventus Move After Promise of Cristiano Ronaldo Reunion," 13 July 2018 Murdoch Spurned Rupert Murdoch antes up $80 billion for Time Warner in an effort to add yet another crown jewel to his gargantuan media empire, but Time Warner is not biting. — Rachel Mosely, Town & Country, "The 1% Daily," 16 July 2014 The Golden State Warriors, winners of three of the past four championships, also have anted-up, and remain stacked. — Nick Canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Latest star Laker? Yeah, just forgot all the early great ones," 7 July 2018 The plan then is to double down on speed with the offense, while attempting to ante up with toughness on defense. — Sam Mellinger, kansascity, "Decoding the overhauled Chiefs, and Brett Veach's first offseason | The Kansas City Star," 5 May 2018 The other participants have got to ante up and this is their neighborhood. — Fox News, "Gowdy and Scott on Mueller probe, new book," 3 Apr. 2018 The process meant tracking down property owners, anteing up cash to buy the homes and renovate and finding stable renters who, in some cases, turned into homeowners. — Aleanna Siacon, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit's Virginia Park Historic District gets house-by-house makeover," 14 Apr. 2018 The grandmother may not have a legal leg to stand on with the daughter, but surely the granddaughter received the benefit of the loan and should ante up. — Syndicated Columns, OregonLive.com, "Liz Weston: Make sure gift doesn't create a tax problem," 29 Oct. 2017 Any city that really wants Amazon will have to ante up, and most will find the wherewithal to do so. — James B. Stewart, New York Times, "Following the (Bike) Trail to Amazon’s Second Headquarters," 26 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ante.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.