ante

Everyday

1. An ante is a stake put into the pot before a card game starts. tree →
2. To up the ante means to increase what is at stake or make a situation more serious or demanding. tree →
3. Ante- at the start of a word means "before", as in antenatal (before birth) or anteroom. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday talk "up the ante" is common in news and sport. In words, ante- means before. Phrases: up the ante, raise the ante, ante up.

Examples

• The team upped the ante by training twice a day. tree →
• The players put in their ante. tree →
• Antenatal classes help parents before a baby is born. tree →
• The bully upped the ante, so the teacher stepped in. tree →
• An anteroom is a small room before a bigger one. tree →
• Ante up — everyone puts in a coin! tree →
• "I found myself in an ante-room," said the shadow. tree →

Note

Trap: ante- (before) is different from anti- (against): antenatal vs antibiotic. Said AN-tee.