ant

noun

\ ˈant

Definition of ant

(Entry 1 of 6)

: any of a family (Formicidae) of colonial hymenopterous insects with a complex social organization and various castes performing special duties

ants in one's pants

: impatience for action or activity : restlessness

ant

abbreviation (1)

Definition of ant (Entry 2 of 6)

1 antenna

2 antonym

Ant

abbreviation (2)

Definition of Ant (Entry 3 of 6)

Antarctica

ant-

prefix

Definition of ant- (Entry 4 of 6)

— see anti-

-ant

noun suffix

Definition of -ant (Entry 5 of 6)

1a : one that performs (a specified action) : personal or impersonal agent claimant coolant

b : thing that promotes (a specified action or process) expectorant

2 : one connected with annuitant

3 : thing acted upon (in a specified manner) inhalant

-ant

adjective suffix

Definition of -ant (Entry 6 of 6)

1 : performing (a specified action) or being (in a specified condition) somnambulant

2 : promoting (a specified action or process) expectorant

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Example Sentences Phrases Containing ant Learn More About ant

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Examples of ant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun These ant baits from Raid use two types of bait to kill ants. — Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 18 Apr. 2022 Missouri’s ant-CRT bill includes the diversity training clause, this time for all public school students. — Peter Greene, Forbes, 14 Apr. 2022 Before dropping the call, Cera shows an ant infestation in his house, and how he's been able to catch them all in a bowl. — Giovana Gelhoren, PEOPLE.com, 14 Apr. 2022 If Levi’s is the giant of the jean world, Prison Blues is more like an ant scurrying underfoot. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 13 Apr. 2022 To most, stings from the Asian needle ant will not be harmful, just painful. — Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Mar. 2022 The pathogen has spread to every nearby ant within seven months, and two years later, the colonies were totally wiped out. — Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2022 The tawny crazy ant’s success in Texas, though, has not gone unnoticed—microbially speaking. — Matt Simon, Wired, 30 Mar. 2022 After consecutive shocks from the pandemic and now a war, more governments may follow the ant’s example. — Carol Ryan, WSJ, 24 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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History and Etymology for ant

Noun

Middle English ante, emete, from Old English æmette; akin to Old High German āmeiza ant

Noun suffix

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from -ant, present participle suffix, from Latin -ant-, -ans, present participle suffix of first conjugation, from -a- (stem vowel of first conjugation) + -nt-, -ns, present participle suffix; akin to Old English -nde, present participle suffix, Greek -nt-, -n, participle suffix

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Learn More About ant

Dictionary Entries Near ant

answer to (something)

ant

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Last Updated

8 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Ant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ant. Accessed 20 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for ant

ant

noun

\ ˈant

Kids Definition of ant

: a small insect related to the bees and wasps that lives in colonies and forms nests in the ground or in wood in which it stores food and raises its young

ant.

abbreviation