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

To be classified as tequila, a spirit must be at least 51% derived from blue agave (with the rest made up from another neutral spirit), though many brands today up the ante and use 100 percent blue agave. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "12 Things Every Tequila Aficionado Needs to Know," 7 June 2019 The hook is irresistible: Instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the Moon in July 1969, For All Mankind places a Soviet cosmonaut on the lunar surface first, stunning the Americans—and inspiring them to up the ante. — Andrew Daniels, Popular Mechanics, "What If the Soviets Beat NASA to the Moon? Apple’s New Show Reimagines the Space Race," 3 June 2019 Already ahead of the curve with its beloved eco-conscious refillable pouches, L'Occitane is now upping the ante on its commitment to respecting the planet by joining forces with Loop Industries, a technology innovator in sustainable plastic. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "5 Big Beauty Brands That Are Tackling the Industry’s Plastic Problem," 22 Apr. 2019 During Weekend 1 of Coachella, people like Gigi Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kylie and Kendall Jenner upped the ante on festival street style with pieces from the beloved Scandinavian label Ganni. — Glamour, "Everyone's Wearing This Brand at Coachella," 15 Apr. 2019 The carmakers are among the companies with the most to lose if Trump ups the ante on the tariffs placed on $50 billion of goods announced last week. — Renae Merle, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Trump's CFPB nominee is facing questions about the immigration controversy," 20 June 2018 Gryffin ups the ante on this ode to young love with a shimmering, energetic synth house remix. — Kat Bein, Billboard, "The 10 Best Troye Sivan Remixes," 4 June 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Which is what led the commission to ante up for the new routes. — Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al.com, "Johnson: Restoration of public transit to residents means those who most need the bus can finally ride one," 9 June 2019 What Miracle Performance has done, ante up for one of the best but also most underappreciated pieces of exercise equipment, others can do, too. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, "Miracle Performance enters VersaClimber arena with ‘MP Climb’: Stretching Out," 7 June 2019 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

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.