a stake put up by a player in poker or other gambling games before receiving cards, a compulsory payment to a government or larger pot at the beginning of a game of poker or other gambling games

up the ante, meet the ante, raise the ante

Formal and Informal Expressions of ante

In different contexts, you can replace 'ante' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'stake' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'bet' is a commonplace synonym.

ante: Explore its Definition & Usage

ante Definition

1a stake put up by a player in poker or other gambling games before receiving cards
2a compulsory payment to a government or larger pot at the beginning of a game of poker or other gambling games

Using ante: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ante" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I'll raise the ante by $10.
Example
Everyone must put in an ante of $5 to start the game.
Example
He lost all his money on the first hand because he didn't have enough to cover the ante.

ante Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for ante

Phrases with ante

up the ante
to increase the stakes or level of risk in a situation
Example
The company upped the ante by investing millions in research and development.
meet the ante
to contribute the required amount of money to start a game
Example
If you don't meet the ante, you can't play.
raise the ante
to increase the amount of money required to start a game
Example
He raised the ante to $20, making it more difficult for others to play.

Origins of ante

from Latin 'ante', meaning 'before'

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Summary: ante in Brief

'Ante' [ˈænti] refers to a stake put up by a player in poker or other gambling games before receiving cards. It can also mean a compulsory payment to a government or larger pot at the beginning of a game of poker or other gambling games. Phrases like 'up the ante,' 'meet the ante,' and 'raise the ante' use 'ante' to denote increasing the stakes or level of risk in a situation.