front burner

noun

: the condition of being in active consideration or development : a position of priority
usually used in the phrase on the front burner
compare back burner
front-burner adjective

Examples of front burner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Since then, the issue has remained on the world’s front burner, with the direct negotiations begun last fall marking a new era of diplomatic progress. Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 2 Feb. 2014 One way or the other the uptick in interest and investment in both ETH and ETH products will drive this conversation to the front burner at the SEC and other regulatory agencies. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 None is quite ready to move from the back burner to the front burner. Dave Itzkoff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023 Those changes appear to happening at two tiers — incremental movement at the energy utilities, and a shifting of priorities among Massachusetts’ leading business associations — moving climate change and clean energy to the front burner. Sabrina Shankman, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for front burner 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'front burner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of front burner was in 1945

Dictionary Entries Near front burner

Cite this Entry

“Front burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front%20burner. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on front burner

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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