ant

1 of 6

noun

ˈant 

: any of a family (Formicidae) of colonial hymenopterous insects with a complex social organization and various castes performing special duties

ant

2 of 6

abbreviation (1)

1

antenna

2

antonym

Ant

3 of 6

abbreviation (2)

Antarctica

ant-

4 of 6

prefix

see anti-

-ant

5 of 6

noun suffix

1

a

: one that performs (a specified action) : personal or impersonal agent

claimant

coolant

b

: thing that promotes (a specified action or process)

expectorant

2

: one connected with

annuitant

3

: thing acted upon (in a specified manner)

inhalant

-ant

6 of 6

adjective suffix

1

: performing (a specified action) or being (in a specified condition)

somnambulant

2

: promoting (a specified action or process)

expectorant

Phrases

ants in one's pants

: impatience for action or activity : restlessness

Examples of ant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The devastation that wiped out the dinosaurs created ideal conditions for various fungi to thrive, and ants actually began to cultivate fungi. —Popular Science Staff, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024

There are few things as unpleasant as ants in your kitchen. —Tamara Gane, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2024

If an ant is trapped in sand, its fellow-ants will attempt to save its life, pulling on its limbs and digging away at the sand to try to free it. —Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Most was removed back in 1953, when the Army leveled the site with bulldozers, but tunnel-digging ants occasionally push pieces of it up to the surface. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ante, emete, from Old English æmette; akin to Old High German āmeiza ant

Noun suffix

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from -ant, present participle suffix, from Latin -ant-, -ans, present participle suffix of first conjugation, from -a- (stem vowel of first conjugation) + -nt-, -ns, present participle suffix; akin to Old English -nde, present participle suffix, Greek -nt-, -n, participle suffix

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ant

• ant bear
• ant cow
• ant lion
• army ant
• carpenter ant
• driver ant
• fire ant
• imported fire ant
• pharaoh ant
• red ant
• slave-making ant
• velvet ant
• weaver ant
• white ant

Kids Definition

ant

1 of 4 noun

ˈant

: any of a family of small insects that are related to the bees and wasps and live in colonies in which different types of individuals perform special duties

ant-

2 of 4

see anti-

-ant

3 of 4 noun suffix

ənt,

ᵊnt

1

: one that performs a specified action

coolant

deodorant

2

: thing that is acted upon in a specified manner

inhalant

-ant

4 of 4 adjective suffix

1

: performing a specified action or being in a specified condition

propellant

2

: causing a specified action or process

Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -ant (verb or adjective suffix)