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

• cost
• price
• fee

Verb

• pay
• pay off
• pay up
• meet

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 by upping the comic ante to such go-for-broke lengths, Airplane! —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025

The ante is being significantly raised this year in the wake of a June settlement in the House v. NCAA antitrust case, under which programs will be free to pay their athletes directly—up to $20.5 million per school in 2025-26. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Verb

Carpentersville will have to ante up $248,000 for the engineering work needed to move the water and sewer lines left exposed in the Fox River after a dam was removed last spring by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025

Each member of the group anted up $20. —Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 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"