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)

anted, anteed, anteing. 

1. Poker.,  to put (one's initial stake) into the pot.

2. to produce or pay (one's share) (usually followed byup ).

   He anted up his half of the bill.

verb (used without object)

anted, anteed, anteing. 

1. Poker.,  to put one's initial stake into the pot.

2. Informal.,  to pay (usually followed byup ).

ante-

²

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

   anteroom; antebellum; antedate.

ante

¹

/ 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. 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

ante-

²

prefix

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

   antedate

   antechamber

Word History and Origins

Origin of ante¹

First recorded in 1830–40, 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

The US president spoke after Washington further upped the ante by announcing plans to designate as a terrorist group a cartel that it claims Maduro runs.

Read more on Barron's

Now, if anything, Arsenal's late concession at the Stadium of Light has upped the ante even further before this latest clash between City and Liverpool.

Read more on BBC

But Erivo upped the ante by taking the lyrics of the song to a practical level.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In September, popular television host and comedian Bill Maher upped the ante describing what was happening as a "genocide" .

Read more on BBC

Adding to this ante is the beautifully haunting history behind one of the oldest cities in America.

Read more on MarketWatch