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 of ante

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

Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has upped its tech-forward ante this year with a brand-new app. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

The restaurant offers a weekly barbecue buffet on Wednesdays, giving you a chance to sample local food while weekly poolside cocktail parties up the social ante. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Verb

Just a bit of that money is needed to ante up for a Waukegan Amtrak station. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026

Many taxpayers view threats of anteing up or losing a team as legal extortion. — Steve Doerschuk, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

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
• 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"