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

Joseph LaRocca says some companies are upping the ante in terms of fending off return fraudsters.

From The Daily Beast

The second upped the ante, taking aim at “cray,” “jelly,” “literally,” “teehee,” and “totes.”

From The Daily Beast

Phasellus tristique, eros sit amet maximus tincidunt, enim massa congue nibh, non rutrum lorem ante non lectus.

From The Daily Beast

Hoenig, apparently wanting to continue being booked on Fox News, felt the need to up the anti-Muslim ante.

From The Daily Beast

You can up the ante even more by signing a contract agreeing to pay a pal $20 every time you skip Pilates.

From The Daily Beast

Cert ante hoc tempus vix vnquam Gallis vacatum fuit conuertdis incolarum ad Christum animis.

From Project Gutenberg

Nam Sacerdos ille, qui huc ante nos aduenerat, nostro statim adutu in Galliam sua ipse sponte & pro veteri desiderio remigrauit.

From Project Gutenberg

So Virgil, "Solemnes tum forte dapes et tristia dona ante urbem in luco," &c.

From Project Gutenberg

Her style was a great contrast to the earlier hero-worshiping and glorification of ante-bellum days in Virginia.

From Project Gutenberg

It is difficult to get accustomed to the spending of our lives in ante-chambers, courtyards, or on staircases.

From Project Gutenberg