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
Mind you, blue shampoo and silver shampoo can also up the ante on one’s shower routine.
—
Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2025
Just having it on him will up the ante.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
But according to Automotive News, Infiniti wants to up the ante and boost power from the current 400-hp to 450-hp.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
It was always meant to build on the three-cylinder 675SS and 675NK models to up the ante.
—New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up the ante
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Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2025
Just having it on him will up the ante.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
But according to Automotive News, Infiniti wants to up the ante and boost power from the current 400-hp to 450-hp.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
It was always meant to build on the three-cylinder 675SS and 675NK models to up the ante.
—New Atlas, 22 Aug. 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 5 Oct. 2025.
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