ante up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To contribute one's share of a payment; to provide funds; to pay what is due.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

"Ugh! An inventor, eh?" "Nix! He's not an inventor himself, but he antes-up for 'em."

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To pay a fee necessary to play a game, typically a card game.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “ante up” mean?

To contribute one's share of a payment; to provide funds; to pay what is due.

Is “ante up” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.