ˌəp-ˈfrənt 
ˈəp-ˌfrənt
: being or coming in or at the front: such as
a(1)
: frank, forthright
(2)
: being in a conspicuous or leading position
b
: paid or payable in advance
c
: playing in a front line (as in football)
Examples of up-front in a Sentence
Adjective
some hurt feelings could have been spared if he'd been more up-front about whom he was inviting to the party
Recent Examples on the Web
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Its slightly lower up-front cost and superb bundle value are quite appealing, too.
—PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025
Seth Lederman, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But all of that is possible because of the five players up front dominating at the line of scrimmage.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up-front
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Adjective
Her parents are coldly up-front in their homophobia, but this is the late 1980s.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Its slightly lower up-front cost and superb bundle value are quite appealing, too.
—PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025
Adverb
Not Hiring Or Managing Staff Effectively One of the reasons why having operating capital up front is so critical is that not hiring enough staff members or managing them ineffectively can be the biggest nail in a franchise's downfall.
—Seth Lederman, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
But all of that is possible because of the five players up front dominating at the line of scrimmage.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up-front
Cite this Entry
“Up-front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up-front. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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