Crossword answer · 4 letters
ANTE
AN-tee · noun; verb
ANTE
What does ANTE mean in a crossword?
A stake placed into a poker pot before cards are dealt.
ANTE is usually clued through poker, an opening stake, or a payment made before play. “Up the ___” uses the same word in a familiar phrase.
Why does ANTE appear in crosswords?
It is familiar, compact, and alternates consonants and vowels, giving constructors useful crossings.
Common clue patterns
- A poker payment made first
- An opening stake
- A word after “up the”
These are editorially written pattern summaries, not a reproduced puzzle archive.
Other meanings to watch
As a prefix, ante- means before, as in antebellum; that sense may appear in wordplay clues.