forefront
Americannoun
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the foremost part or place.
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the position of greatest importance or prominence.
in the forefront of today's writers.
noun
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the extreme front
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the position of most prominence, responsibility, or action
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of forefront
First recorded in 1425–75, forefront is from the late Middle English word forfrount, forefrount. See fore-, front
Explanation
If you're at the forefront, you're either the very first to do something or you're in the most important position. Inventing an effective new vaccine would put a scientist at the forefront of modern medicine. The word forefront has been used since the 1600s to mean "front part." Originally, it referred to architecture — you might have commented on the way windows were placed on the forefront of a building, for example. Later, it was used to describe the soldiers at the very front of an advancing army. Today when we talk about the forefront, we usually mean the highest ranking place or position: "She's an amazing comic book artist who's at the forefront of contemporary graphic art."
Vocabulary lists containing forefront
The Gravity of Us
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Harry Truman's Inauguration Address
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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dr. Rhett Kent, of Forefront Dermatology in Arlington, said 60% to 90% of his patients over the last two weeks have experienced mite bites.
From Washington Times • Aug. 24, 2021
The requests for help keep coming at Forefront Church, at all hours of the day and night, and Zanifa Franck keeps responding.
From Washington Times • Jun. 24, 2020
“It’s pretty exciting what they’re trying to do,” said Jennifer Stuber, executive director at Forefront.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2014
“It was really quite an innovative idea,” said Davis, at Forefront, who has been working with Borges’3-year-old group, Huskies for Suicide Prevention and Awareness.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2014
In the meane time our shippes ceased not to batter the foresaid Towne and Platforme with great shotte, till such time as we saw the Red-Crosse of England flourishing vpon the Forefront thereof.
From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 07 England's Naval Exploits Against Spain by Hakluyt, Richard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
