Crossword answer · 4 letters
ANTE definition and meaning
AN-tee · noun; verb; prefix
ANTE
What does ANTE mean?
An ante is a stake put in before a round of a card game. To ante is to contribute that stake.
What does ANTE mean in a crossword?
ANTE is usually clued through poker, an opening stake, or a payment made before play. “Up the ___” uses the same word in a familiar phrase.
Why is ANTE useful to learn?
“Up the ante” extends the idea to increasing what is at stake, not necessarily betting money. A noun clue and a verb clue can use ANTE differently.
Common clue patterns
- An opening card-game stake
- Put up an initial stake
- A before-meaning prefix
These are editorially written pattern summaries, not a reproduced puzzle archive.
Other meanings to watch
Ante- also means before in compounds such as antebellum. ANTE and ANTI are different prefixes; one concerns prior position or time, the other commonly opposition.