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)
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
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
Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
But if these upgrades touted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) follow the path of past improvements to the short-range wireless standard, buying hardware that supports them may require some up-front research.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
The agreement will give Insilico $115 million up front, with the remainder subject to regulatory and commercial milestones, along with royalties on future sales, according to the companies’ announcement Monday.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for up-front
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Adjective
Prior legislative proposals, which never gained traction, have sought to address these concerns by proposing limits on how long assets can sit in a DAF if the donor takes an up-front tax break, Fox said.
—Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
But if these upgrades touted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) follow the path of past improvements to the short-range wireless standard, buying hardware that supports them may require some up-front research.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
And the struggles up front affected what was already troublesome quarterback play after Conner Harrell’s knee injury in Week 4.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
The agreement will give Insilico $115 million up front, with the remainder subject to regulatory and commercial milestones, along with royalties on future sales, according to the companies’ announcement Monday.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
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 30 Mar. 2026.
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