1
a(1)
: forehead
also
: the whole face
(2)
: the part of the body that faces forward
b
: external and often feigned appearance especially in the face of danger or adversity
His surprise was just a front.
She put up a good/brave front, but she was really quite hurt. [=she acted as if she was not hurt]
2
b(1)
: a stand on an issue : policy
(2)
: an area of activity or interest
progress on the educational front
(3)
: a movement linking divergent elements to achieve common objectives
presented a united front against the proposal
… the energy summit presents an avenue … to forge a common front towards improving electricity access …—
Business Day
Business Day
especially
: a political coalition
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
has a tree in the front of the yard
(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
The business is a front for organized crime.
b
: a person who serves as the nominal head or spokesperson of an enterprise or group to lend it prestige
fronted; fronting; fronts
1
: to have the front or principal side adjacent to something
also
: to have frontage on something
… some structures fronting on the ocean … —Nancy Hayden Woodward
Nancy Hayden Woodward 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
I went to the woods because I wished … to front only the essential facts of life …—Henry David Thoreau
Henry David 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
a 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 of front
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 13 Nov. 2025
But the distillery has also been busy on the rye whiskey front with the release of a new 100-proof version of Sazerac Rye a few months ago, and an even higher-proof version was announced today.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
The 1970 track stems from Osbourne’s time fronting the rock band and is featured on its sophomore release, Paranoid.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Its monochromatic burst of yellow will lend a warmth to your front door year after year.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for front
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Officers learned Carson Lawson, 5, was waiting for the school bus in the driveway, standing in front of Anders' 2016 GMC Yukon that was backed into the driveway, when his grandmother allegedly ran him over.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 13 Nov. 2025
But the distillery has also been busy on the rye whiskey front with the release of a new 100-proof version of Sazerac Rye a few months ago, and an even higher-proof version was announced today.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
Daisy Jones & the Six chronicles the rise and fall of a group fronted by two charismatic lead singers—Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne—and their journey from obscurity to fame, complete with romantic tensions, personal crises, and drug problems.
—Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
The 1970 track stems from Osbourne’s time fronting the rock band and is featured on its sophomore release, Paranoid.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
One front-line starter that may catch the Mets' eye this offseason is Pittsburgh Pirates hurler Mitch Keller.
—Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Its monochromatic burst of yellow will lend a warmth to your front door year after year.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for front
Cite this Entry
“Front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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