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
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.
On a larger scale, AI data centers are at the forefront of local protests and environmental concern, with the megaprojects polluting acres of once peaceful land, using up precious resources and driving up electricity prices.
From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026
Geese have undeniably been at the forefront of conversations on tantalizing, new rock and the revival of the classic “band scene.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The private credit problem is still very much real, and could come to the forefront when big banks report their first-quarter results next week.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
And despite numerous setbacks, including tragic accidents, the country has often been able to stay at the forefront of flight.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Paula had the air of a real ideologue; she could, Ifemelu imagined, slip easily into anarchy, stand at the forefront of protests, defying the clubs of policemen and the taunts of unbelievers.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
