up the ante
idiom
1
: to raise the cost or price
The popular actor first demanded twice the salary offered him but then kept upping the ante.
2
: to increase the risk or possible harm that could result from something
—often + on
The new law ups the ante on people who cheat on their taxes.
3
: to set a higher standard or goal
—often + on
The film ups the ante on special effects.
Examples of up the ante in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The floor-to-ceiling windows and stone fireplace only up the ante on the atmospheric mood.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2024
Kathy Griffin has some thoughts on how to up the ante on the next season of The Golden Bachelorette.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
Let’s up the ante and allow the human and the AI to make changes directly on the draft memo.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
To up the ante on its elasticity-boosting properties, the formula is also spiked with 2.5% tripeptide concentrate.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for up the ante 
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Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2024
Kathy Griffin has some thoughts on how to up the ante on the next season of The Golden Bachelorette.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
Let’s up the ante and allow the human and the AI to make changes directly on the draft memo.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
To up the ante on its elasticity-boosting properties, the formula is also spiked with 2.5% tripeptide concentrate.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for up the ante
Dictionary Entries Near up the ante
Cite this Entry
“Up the ante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20the%20ante. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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