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
But the latest generation of tech billionaires, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates, have upped the ownership ante by creating new style parameters and technologies that have pushed superyacht design forward. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2024 Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Royal Caribbean was the first to up the private-island ante with CocoCay. Michelle Fox, CNBC, 26 Oct. 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 See all Example Sentences for ante 

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 3 Nov. 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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