1
a
: a military line formed by the most advanced tactical combat units
also
: front sense 2a(2)
b
: an area of potential or actual conflict or struggle
2
: the most advanced, responsible, or visible position in a field or activity
front·line
ˈfrənt-ˌlīn 
1
: relating to, being, or involved in a front line
frontline ambulances
2
: first-rate
frontline teachers
Synonyms
Noun
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Examples of front line in a Sentence
Noun
These researchers are on the front line of defense against cancer.
She has been working on the front lines to educate the poor.
Adjective
if I'm having brain surgery, I want it done at a frontline hospital
Recent Examples on the Web
Grace Edquist, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
On the front lines, when the thud of artillery recedes for the day, or the hour, resistance soldiers trade AK rifles for guitars.
—Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
On Ukraine, its Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was invited to Capri as a guest, underlined his country’s need for essential military support, including artillery, ammunition, and air defense systems as Russia pushes along the front line.
—Nicole Winfield, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
But, having emerged from winter, Pavlenko said, some of the air defenses may have been relocated – for instance, to Ukraine’s front lines.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
The entertainment empire is embroiled in a number of high-profile legal battles that have placed it on the front lines of the nation’s culture wars.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
There is also clear evidence that Ukraine has, at times, deployed some air defense assets closer to the front lines to target Russian aircraft.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
In Israel’s south and north, more than 120,000 people have been evacuated, their neighborhoods transformed into front lines.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
In Jersey, which is on the front line of the invasion, Christie has been leading the fightback.
—Frankie Adkins, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, McC, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The satellite launches have inflamed animosities between the rival Koreas, and both nations have taken steps to breach a previous military agreement meant to ease frontline military tensions.
—The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 2 Dec. 2023
The elevator and escalator manufacturer’s team has a lot of frontline essential workers who remained active throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
—John Kell, Fortune, 23 June 2023
In states where cancer patients are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, limited supply keeps them waiting as health care workers, frontline essential workers, nursing home residents and staff, and other Americans with underlying health conditions fill up available appointments.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2021
Researchers believe changes there help the virus bind more tightly to our cells and hide from frontline immune defenders called antibodies that try to block the virus from invading our cells.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 3 May 2022
Also, frontline essential works, such as firefighters, educators (including teachers, day care workers, and support staff), grocery store employees, public transit workers, postal workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, police officers, and corrections officers.
—Matt Jancer, Wired, 11 Mar. 2021
Ukraine first deployed DroneHunter last May to chase down the Group 1 and 2 drones that Russia was using to spy on frontline Ukrainian troops.
—Jason Sherman, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2023
The majority of damage is concentrated in frontline eastern regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk.
—Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 24 Mar. 2023
Noun
For the unfamiliar, Jonas is the visionary American artist who worked on the front lines of performance and video art starting in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
On the front lines, when the thud of artillery recedes for the day, or the hour, resistance soldiers trade AK rifles for guitars.
—Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
On Ukraine, its Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was invited to Capri as a guest, underlined his country’s need for essential military support, including artillery, ammunition, and air defense systems as Russia pushes along the front line.
—Nicole Winfield, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
But, having emerged from winter, Pavlenko said, some of the air defenses may have been relocated – for instance, to Ukraine’s front lines.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
The entertainment empire is embroiled in a number of high-profile legal battles that have placed it on the front lines of the nation’s culture wars.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
There is also clear evidence that Ukraine has, at times, deployed some air defense assets closer to the front lines to target Russian aircraft.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
In Israel’s south and north, more than 120,000 people have been evacuated, their neighborhoods transformed into front lines.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
In Jersey, which is on the front line of the invasion, Christie has been leading the fightback.
—Frankie Adkins, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Also frontline medical personnel: doctors, nurses and others.
—Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, McC, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The satellite launches have inflamed animosities between the rival Koreas, and both nations have taken steps to breach a previous military agreement meant to ease frontline military tensions.
—The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 2 Dec. 2023
The elevator and escalator manufacturer’s team has a lot of frontline essential workers who remained active throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
—John Kell, Fortune, 23 June 2023
In states where cancer patients are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, limited supply keeps them waiting as health care workers, frontline essential workers, nursing home residents and staff, and other Americans with underlying health conditions fill up available appointments.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2021
Researchers believe changes there help the virus bind more tightly to our cells and hide from frontline immune defenders called antibodies that try to block the virus from invading our cells.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 3 May 2022
Also, frontline essential works, such as firefighters, educators (including teachers, day care workers, and support staff), grocery store employees, public transit workers, postal workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, police officers, and corrections officers.
—Matt Jancer, Wired, 11 Mar. 2021
Ukraine first deployed DroneHunter last May to chase down the Group 1 and 2 drones that Russia was using to spy on frontline Ukrainian troops.
—Jason Sherman, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2023
The majority of damage is concentrated in frontline eastern regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk.
—Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 24 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'front line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Front line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front%20line. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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