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
Investigación: Por qué la gente paga una prima para completar una tarea antes por Annabelle Roberts y Ayelet Fishbach Octubre 04, 2024 Resumen. Annabelle Roberts ayelet Fishbach, Harvard Business Review, 4 Oct. 2024 Camera Control removes that friction—all while introducing new forms of friction which considerably up the complexity ante for people. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 3 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 8 Oct. 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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