up-front

1 of 2

adjective

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)

up front

2 of 2

adverb

1

: in or at the front

2

: in advance

3

: in an up-front manner : frankly, forthrightly

Synonyms

Adjective

• candid
• direct
• forthcoming
• forthright
• foursquare
• frank
• free-spoken
• freehearted
• honest
• open
• openhearted
• out-front
• outspoken
• plain
• plainspoken
• straight
• straightforward
• unguarded
• unreserved

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

Adjective

But up-front cost-cutting measures can’t be blamed for all the storyline issues, as some details — like young Christopher (Jeremy Scott Reinbolt) being strapped into his bed at night — purposefully went unexplained, while others were lost on the cutting room floor. —Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 29 June 2024

But that inflow of up-front cash won’t reach Hadley, whose reimbursements come through the criminal justice system. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2024

Adverb

On The Move Caravans Inside, the 4.7-m-long (15.4-ft) Crossfire features a two-sleeper caravan-style cabin that provides all the necessities for a trip out on the range, starting with a queen-size memory foam bed up front. —New Atlas, 15 July 2024

Pairing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins with defensive end Maxx Crosby gives the Silver and Black one of the NFL's most formidable duos up front. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1945, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1