up-front

1 of 2

adjective

ˌəp-ˈfrənt 

ˈəp-ˌfrənt

variants or upfront

: being or coming in or at the front: such as

a(1)

: frank, forthright

were up-front about their suspicions

(2)

: being in a conspicuous or leading position

b

: paid or payable in advance

up-front cash

c

: playing in a front line (as in football)

up front

2 of 2

adverb

1

: in or at the front

chose a seat up front

2

: in advance

paid up front

3

: in an up-front manner : frankly, forthrightly

expressed his doubts up front

Synonyms of up-front

Adjective

• outspoken
• honest
• candid
• frank
• straightforward
• forthcoming
• forthright

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

Investors should worry, where is the money for all of this stupendous, up-front, pre-big-profit AI campaign supposed to come from? —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 June 2026

Though moves in this direction would require an up-front investment by prosecutors’ offices, the long-term benefits may be well worth the effort. —Rebecca Dunlea, The Conversation, 17 June 2026

Adverb

The braking system follows the same philosophy, with a dual-piston floating caliper and disc up front, and a 220-mm rear disc paired with a single-piston caliper. —Utkarsh Sood june 20, New Atlas, 20 June 2026

With Pulisic unavailable, Pochettino started two strikers up front in Balogun and Ricardo Pepi. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1945, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for up-front

• affront
• confront
• exeunt
• forefront
• lakefront
• manhunt
• sederunt
• upfront
• battlefront
• oceanfront
• riverfront
• waterfront