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.
In a statement about the deal, Savvy Games Group Chief Executive Brian Ward touted the success of “Monopoly Go!” as “indicative of Scopely’s ongoing position at the forefront of the global games sector.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026
“As demand for U.S. energy and utility infrastructure solutions accelerates, this transaction places CRH at the forefront of an immense growth opportunity,” Chief Executive Jim Mintern said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
It may not make a material impact on Google’s finances in the short term, Luria said, but “it does reduce the likelihood it can stay at the forefront of AI development.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 20, 2026
While Kone and his injury was very much at the forefront of Marsch and his players' thoughts, they allowed themselves a moment to celebrate their historic result at the final whistle.
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026
But the Magic Kingdom is at the forefront of the effort to restore life as we knew it.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
