1
a
: forehead
also
: the whole face
b
: external and often feigned appearance especially in the face of danger or adversity
2
3
: a side of a building
especially
: the side that contains the principal entrance
4
a
: the forward part or surface
b(1)
: frontage
(2)
: a beach promenade at a seaside resort
c
d
: the boundary between two dissimilar air masses
5
archaic
: beginning
6
a(1)
: a position ahead of a person or of the foremost part of a thing
(2)
—used as a call by a hotel desk clerk in summoning a bellhop
b
: a position of leadership or superiority
7
a
: a person, group, or thing used to mask the identity or true character or activity of the actual controlling agent
b
: a person who serves as the nominal head or spokesman of an enterprise or group to lend it prestige
fronted; fronting; fronts
1
: to have the front or principal side adjacent to something
2
a
: to act or serve as a cover or front (see front entry 1 sense 7a) for something or someone
… a new initiative targeting brothels and massage parlors fronting for sex trafficking rings.—
St. John Barned-Smith
St. John Barned-Smith
b
US, informal
: to assume a fake or false personality to conceal one's true identity and character
Don't front, don't put something out there that you feel isn't realistic and doesn't portray who you are.—Chloë Grace Moretz
Chloë Grace MoretzLook, we all know you got your heart broken. Stop fronting and write a love song.—Allison Keyes
Allison Keyes1
a
: confront
went to the woods because I wished … to front only the essential facts of life—H. D. Thoreau
H. D. Thoreau
b
: to appear before
daily fronted him in some fresh splendor—Alfred Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson2
a
: to be in front of
a lawn fronting the house
b
: to be the leader of (a musical group)
appeared as a soloist and fronted bands
3
: to face toward or have frontage on
the house fronts the street
4
: to supply a front to
fronted the building with bricks
5
a
: to articulate (a sound) with the tongue farther forward
b
: to move (a word or phrase) to the beginning of a sentence
6
basketball
: to play in front of (an opposing player) rather than between the player and the basket
7
: to give (someone) the money, material, etc. needed to do something : advance sense 7
She fronted them a loan to get the start-up going.
1
a
: of, relating to, or situated at the front
b
: acting as a front
front company
2
: articulated at or toward the front of the oral passage
front vowels
3
: constituting the first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course
front
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of front in a Sentence
Noun
the front of the church features a magnificent stained-glass window
that smile is just a front—I don't think she actually likes me at all
Verb
The house fronts Main Street.
The house fronts on Main Street.
He is now fronting a different band.
He fronts a talk show.
Adjective
There's a small statue on the front lawn.
He keeps his wallet in his front pocket.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebJonah Flicker, Robb Report, 4 Dec. 2023
Earlier this week, David Grisham dressed up as the Dr. Seuss character and held up the poster while standing in front of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Amarillo, Texas.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023
Surely, Russians must be sensitive to their growing isolation and economic hardship, and the ever-growing sacrifice of their young men at the front.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 1 Dec. 2023
Climate concerns likely aren’t front of mind when consumers choose a pickup: heft, storage, and looks tend to be far more important.
—Carlton Reid, WIRED, 1 Dec. 2023
Beyoncé wore a black dress with a large silver emblem on the front.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2023
Four others were also injured by bullets, and two were injured after falling in front of the prison.
—WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023
The electric vehicle road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back delivered on so many fronts.
—Selika Josiah Talbott, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
And on the surprising front, an opera singer, former male model, and a shockingly quick and agile tennis and soccer player!
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Nov. 2023
Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2023
Just front your store with vending machines that can be stocked from behind, and then close the doors.
—Nikki Baird, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Nicotine Dolls are fronted by lead singer Sam Cieri and also comprises John Hays (guitar), John Merritt (bass) and Abel Tabares (drums).
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 29 Nov. 2023
Fat Joe called upon his famous friends to be brand ambassadors and front the boxes.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023
The 50-plus cars making up the procession were fronted by Joel Laub’s 1929 Bentley Speed Six, immediately followed by the new and all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre—the two vehicles providing a striking juxtaposition of British performance and refinement, then and now.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
Emmy Award winner Jimmy Kimmel is back as the host for the upcoming 2024 Oscars ceremony, marking the late-night star’s fourth time fronting the show.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023
The latest from the Radiohead spin-off group fronted by that group’s singer Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood as featuring Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner will coincide with a series of UK and European headlining dates in March.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Nov. 2023
The 10-year-old, whose parents are Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, fronted i-D's Fall/Winter 2023 issue, which marked her first solo cover to date.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 6 Dec. 2023
Cushioned shoulder straps remain comfortable even when your bag is packed to the brim, and an easy-access front pocket is an ideal place to store important travel documents or liquids that may need to be quickly removed while heading through TSA.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2023
Add a sparkly glow to your front door display with the three tinsel present boxes that come pre-lit with 60 LED lights.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023
Can-Am claims the finger knuckle drops torque on the front upper ball joint by 85 percent and allows for shock dampers to now mount directly to the lower arm.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023
For every procedure, doctors should show multiple angles — front, lateral (both sides in profile), and three-quarter oblique views (left and right), at minimum — because each view has something to offer.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 1 Dec. 2023
The Signature model is made of a luxurious blend of wool and cashmere, with a midi hem and front pockets.
—Selene Oliva, Glamour, 24 Nov. 2023
There is also a money clip that fits U.S. bills with no spillover, or the attachment can secure the wallet in a front pocket instead.
—Morgan Ashley Parker, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2023
At last, the climate crisis is front page news, all the time.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
See More
Noun
The second is a 10-year-old single malt finished in Pomerol Bordeaux wine barrels (93 proof), with a tannic hit up front followed by notes of blackberry, spice, and leather.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 4 Dec. 2023
Earlier this week, David Grisham dressed up as the Dr. Seuss character and held up the poster while standing in front of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Amarillo, Texas.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023
Surely, Russians must be sensitive to their growing isolation and economic hardship, and the ever-growing sacrifice of their young men at the front.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 1 Dec. 2023
Climate concerns likely aren’t front of mind when consumers choose a pickup: heft, storage, and looks tend to be far more important.
—Carlton Reid, WIRED, 1 Dec. 2023
Beyoncé wore a black dress with a large silver emblem on the front.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2023
Four others were also injured by bullets, and two were injured after falling in front of the prison.
—WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023
The electric vehicle road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back delivered on so many fronts.
—Selika Josiah Talbott, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
And on the surprising front, an opera singer, former male model, and a shockingly quick and agile tennis and soccer player!
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Nov. 2023
Verb
That piece too is at the Hirshhorn, fronting the museum on Independence Avenue.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2023
Just front your store with vending machines that can be stocked from behind, and then close the doors.
—Nikki Baird, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Nicotine Dolls are fronted by lead singer Sam Cieri and also comprises John Hays (guitar), John Merritt (bass) and Abel Tabares (drums).
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 29 Nov. 2023
Fat Joe called upon his famous friends to be brand ambassadors and front the boxes.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023
The 50-plus cars making up the procession were fronted by Joel Laub’s 1929 Bentley Speed Six, immediately followed by the new and all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre—the two vehicles providing a striking juxtaposition of British performance and refinement, then and now.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
Emmy Award winner Jimmy Kimmel is back as the host for the upcoming 2024 Oscars ceremony, marking the late-night star’s fourth time fronting the show.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023
The latest from the Radiohead spin-off group fronted by that group’s singer Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood as featuring Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner will coincide with a series of UK and European headlining dates in March.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Nov. 2023
The 10-year-old, whose parents are Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, fronted i-D's Fall/Winter 2023 issue, which marked her first solo cover to date.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
Adjective
When a tactical unit of police officers breached the front door, attempting to execute the search warrant, a person inside opened fire with a gun, Penn said.
—Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 6 Dec. 2023
Cushioned shoulder straps remain comfortable even when your bag is packed to the brim, and an easy-access front pocket is an ideal place to store important travel documents or liquids that may need to be quickly removed while heading through TSA.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2023
Add a sparkly glow to your front door display with the three tinsel present boxes that come pre-lit with 60 LED lights.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023
Can-Am claims the finger knuckle drops torque on the front upper ball joint by 85 percent and allows for shock dampers to now mount directly to the lower arm.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023
For every procedure, doctors should show multiple angles — front, lateral (both sides in profile), and three-quarter oblique views (left and right), at minimum — because each view has something to offer.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 1 Dec. 2023
The Signature model is made of a luxurious blend of wool and cashmere, with a midi hem and front pockets.
—Selene Oliva, Glamour, 24 Nov. 2023
There is also a money clip that fits U.S. bills with no spillover, or the attachment can secure the wallet in a front pocket instead.
—Morgan Ashley Parker, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2023
At last, the climate crisis is front page news, all the time.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'front.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French frunt, front, from Latin front-, frons
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1523, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Adjective
1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of front was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing front
Dictionary Entries Near front
Cite this Entry
“Front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
front
1 of 3 noun1
: outer often pretended appearance
put up a good front
2
: a region in which active warfare is taking place
3
: the forward part or surface
the front of a shirt
the front of the house
4
: the boundary between two dissimilar air masses
5
: someone or something that hides the true identity of those who are in control
a front for organized crime
front
2 of 3 verb
: to have the front or face toward
the cottage fronting on the lake
the house fronts the street
front
3 of 3 adjective
: of, relating to, or situated at the front
Legal Definition
front
noun
: something or someone (as a person or group) used to mask the identity or true character or activity of the actual person or organization in control
front
verb
More from Merriam-Webster on front
Nglish: Translation of front for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of front for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about front
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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