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

Thus, the city hasn’t made progress against violent crime so much as it’s returned to the status quo ante after detouring down a misguided policy path. —Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2025

Analysts say the politicization of the police is part of a broader assault on the legal status quo ante by the hard-right coalition, which is reviving its judicial overhaul efforts targeting the Supreme Court and the independent attorney general – key checks on political power in Israel. —Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jan. 2025

Verb

That’s because employers typically ante up matching funds to encourage worker participation. —Russ Wiles, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025

The 49ers can ante up again for the five-year veteran, their most productive target since Brock Purdy took over at quarterback in 2022. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for ante

• anti
• auntie
• canty
• fanti
• grantee
• panty
• scanty
• shanty
• chianti
• vigilante

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"