up the ante
idiom
1
: to raise the cost or price
The popular actor first demanded twice the salary offered him but then kept upping the ante.
2
: to increase the risk or possible harm that could result from something
—often + on
The new law ups the ante on people who cheat on their taxes.
3
: to set a higher standard or goal
—often + on
The film ups the ante on special effects.
Examples of up the ante in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To truly copy Drescher’s look, pair the lip balm with Laura Geller’s Modern Classic Lip Liner in Ritzy Red to define your pout and up the ante on the color.
—
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
These leather Mary Jane sneakers up the ante, maintaining that effortless ease while feeling a bit easier to dress up.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
The pact promises to up the ante on the Globes outcomes for users of Polymarket, which has skyrocketed since its launch in 2020 and become a key source of tapping into public sentiment on topics ranging from politics and elections to sports to pop culture trends.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
But before our last meeting of the year during the holiday season, our group wanted to up the ante on our appetizer game for the book’s finale.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up the ante
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Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
These leather Mary Jane sneakers up the ante, maintaining that effortless ease while feeling a bit easier to dress up.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
The pact promises to up the ante on the Globes outcomes for users of Polymarket, which has skyrocketed since its launch in 2020 and become a key source of tapping into public sentiment on topics ranging from politics and elections to sports to pop culture trends.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
But before our last meeting of the year during the holiday season, our group wanted to up the ante on our appetizer game for the book’s finale.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up the ante
Cite this Entry
“Up the ante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20the%20ante. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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