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

This is a knotted situation that could become even worse domestically if Rangers were not so hell-bent on raising the ante in the crisis stakes.

From BBC

Pyongyang has upped the ante in recent weeks, with leader Kim Jong Un's sister rebuffing efforts towards reconciliation made by Lee's government.

From BBC

With Thelin using a 4-2-3-1 system and preferring Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Ante Palaversa in the deeper roles and Aouchiche as the number 10 - along with traditional quick wingers out wide - Polvara starting would mean a change of tack from the Aberdeen boss.

From BBC

And Season 2 really ups the ante because now he’s in a position of leadership and no one is helping him navigate this new space.

From Los Angeles Times

A close study of dermal changes may reveal whether a burn was ante- or post-mortem, according to one paper.

From BBC