What does "ante up" mean (sense 1)?

To place your mandatory initial bet (the ante) in a card game, especially poker, so you can join the round. Example: "The dealer reminded everyone to ante up before she started dealing the cards."

What does "ante up" mean (sense 2)?

To pay money or provide resources, especially when required to do so in order to be part of something. Example: "If you want a seat on the board, you're going to have to ante up a significant investment."

What does "ante up" mean (sense 3)?

To increase one's commitment or effort in response to a challenge. Example: "The competition has anteed up with a brand new product, so we need to respond."

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ante up

B2 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive

To put in your initial stake in a gambling game, or to pay or contribute money, especially when required to participate in something.

In plain English

Put your money in — either for a card game or because you have to pay for something.

What does "ante up" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B2 informal

common

To place your mandatory initial bet (the ante) in a card game, especially poker, so you can join the round.

"The dealer reminded everyone to ante up before she started dealing the cards."

inseparable

2 B2 idiomatic informal

common

To pay money or provide resources, especially when required to do so in order to be part of something.

"If you want a seat on the board, you're going to have to ante up a significant investment."

inseparable

3 C1 idiomatic informal

uncommon

To increase one's commitment or effort in response to a challenge.

"The competition has anteed up with a brand new product, so we need to respond."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To place your ante (starting bet) upward into the centre of the table.

Actually means

Put your money in — either for a card game or because you have to pay for something.

Usage tip

From poker terminology ('ante' is the mandatory opening bet). The figurative sense of paying or contributing is very common in business and everyday contexts. Widely used in American English; understood in British English. Often implies the stakes are significant.

Words that pair with "ante up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

money funds cash investment dollars commitment

How to conjugate "ante up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

ante up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

antes up

he/she/it

Past simple

anted up

yesterday

Past participle

anted up

have + pp

-ing form

anting up

continuous

Hear "ante up" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "ante up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "ante" All phrasal verbs with "up" More B2-level phrasal verbs