I. ˈantē, ˈaan- adverb or preposition
Etymology: ante-
: before
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a poker stake usually arbitrarily fixed and usually put up before the deal to build the pot
the dealer called for a dollar ante
2. : an amount paid in advance especially as a share in a joint financial venture : amount charged each entrant or participant : price
the ante of these shareholders — Atlantic
considerations that tend to raise the ante — American Fabrics
III. verb
( anted ; anted ; anteing ; antes )
Etymology: ante (II)
transitive verb
: to put up (an ante) : pay , produce
anteing dollar bills for the next hand
— often used with up
they anted up $1,000,000 to build a pilot plant — Newsweek
ante up ideas in a general conversation — George Biddle
intransitive verb
: to pay up — usually used with up
ante up or move into the street — Time
IV. noun
: stake 4a b — often used in the phrase up the ante
he knows he can up the ante by asking to live with Dad — Myriam W. Misrach