ante

¹

[ an-tee ]

noun

1. Poker. a fixed but arbitrary stake put into the pot by each player before the deal.
2. an amount of money paid in advance to insure an individual's share in a joint business venture.
3. Informal. an individual's share of the total expenses incurred by a group.
4. Informal. the price or cost of something.

verb (used with object)

, an·ted or an·teed, an·te·ing.

1. Poker. to put (one's initial stake) into the pot.
2. to produce or pay (one's share) (usually followed by up ):

   He anted up his half of the bill.

verb (used without object)

, an·ted or an·teed, an·te·ing.

1. Poker. to put one's initial stake into the pot.
2. Informal. to pay (usually followed by up ).

ante-

²

1. a prefix meaning “before,” used in the formation of compound words:

   anteroom; antebellum; antedate.

ante-

¹

prefix

1. before in time or position; previous to; in front of

   antedate

   antechamber

ante

²

/ ˈæntɪ /

noun

1. the gaming stake put up before the deal in poker by the players
2. informal.
   a sum of money representing a person's share, as in a syndicate
3. up the ante informal.
   to increase the costs, risks, or considerations involved in taking an action or reaching a conclusion

   whenever they reached their goal, they upped the ante by setting more complex challenges for themselves

verb

1. to place (one's stake) in poker
2. informal.
   usually foll by up to pay

Word History and Origins

Origin of ante¹

First recorded in 1830–40, Americanism; independent use of ante-

Origin of ante²

From Latin, prefixal form of preposition and adverb ante ( ancient ¹ ); akin to Greek antí, Old English and- “against, toward, opposite.” See answer, and, anti-

Word History and Origins

Origin of ante¹

from Latin

Example Sentences

It is far more likely that the gladiatrix fought uncovered to match the gladiator’s customs — upping the ante by leaving more skin vulnerable to her opponent’s sword.

From Salon

Gregor Townsend’s team upped the ante in a major way after the break.

From BBC

“They’ve got to up the ante by searching officers going in,” Davis says.

From BBC

“This is my guy,” he said, before quickly upping the ante: “I got this inning,” he declared, as Muncy later recounted.

From Los Angeles Times

However, Sinner then underlined his status as world number one, upping the ante when it mattered most to strike the crucial blow as Fritz served to stay in the set at 5-4 down.

From BBC