Question 1

What does "up the ante" mean?

Accepted Answer

To raise the stakes or increase the level of demands, risks, or competition in a situation.

Question 2

How do you use "up the ante" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

The rival company upped the ante by offering twice the salary.

Question 3

Is "up the ante" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"up the ante" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. From poker; used in business negotiations and competitive contexts to mean escalating demands or commitment.