Ante means before — antenatal, antechamber, and as a noun the stake put in before a poker hand. Anti means against — antifreeze, anti-war. "Up the ante" means raise the stakes and takes the E; there is no such thing as upping the anti.
The core difference
Two prefixes meaning opposite kinds of thing, plus one common noun.
- ante- — before: antenatal, antechamber, antecedent.
- anti- — against: antibiotic, anticlimax, antisocial.
- ante (noun) — the stake before a hand: up the ante.
The confusing ones
Anticipate takes ANTI but means "before" — it is from ante- plus capere, to take beforehand, and the spelling shifted. Antique likewise means old rather than against. So the prefixes are reliable guides but not perfect ones.
The poker phrase
The ante is the compulsory bet placed before cards are dealt — before, hence the name. "Up the ante" means increasing what is at risk, and it is one of the most commonly misspelled idioms in English.
Frequently asked questions
Is it "up the ante" or "up the anti"?
Up the ante — the stake placed before a poker hand.
Which prefix means against?
Anti-, as in antisocial and anti-war. Ante- means before.
Why does anticipate use anti?
It actually comes from ante-, meaning to take beforehand — the spelling shifted over time.