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

Attached to the lawsuit is an ante litem notice sent by the plaintiff’s attorneys in August 2024 to officials at Walnut Grove High School, where the alleged victim attended and participated in scholastic cheerleading team under the coaching of Moore. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2025

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