front

[ fruhnt ]

/ frʌnt /

Save This Word!

noun

the foremost part or surface of anything.

the part or side of anything that faces forward: the front of a jacket.

the part or side of anything, as a building, that seems to look out or to be directed forward: He sat in the front of the restaurant.

any side or face, as of a building.

a façade, considered with respect to its architectural treatment or material: a cast-iron front.

a property line along a street or the like: a fifty-foot front.

a place or position directly before anything: We decided to plant trees in the front.

a position of leadership in a particular endeavor or field: She rose to the front of her profession.

Military.

the foremost line or part of an army.
a line of battle.
the place where combat operations are carried on.

an area of activity, conflict, or competition: news from the business front.

land facing a road, river, etc.

British. a promenade along a seashore.

Informal. a distinguished person listed as an official of an organization, for the sake of prestige, and who is usually inactive.

a person or thing that serves as a cover or disguise for some other activity, especially one of a secret, disreputable, or illegal nature; a blind: The store was a front for foreign agents.

outward impression of rank, position, or wealth.

bearing or demeanor in confronting anything: a calm front.

haughtiness; self-importance: That clerk has the most outrageous front.

the forehead, or the entire face: the statue's gracefully chiseled front.

a coalition or movement to achieve a particular end, usually political: the people's front.

something attached or worn at the breast, as a shirt front or a dickey: to spill gravy down one's front.

Meteorology. an interface or zone of transition between two dissimilar air masses.

Theater.

the auditorium.
the business offices of a theater.
the front of the stage; downstage.

adjective

of or relating to the front.

situated in or at the front: front seats.

Phonetics. (of a speech sound) articulated with the tongue blade relatively far forward in the mouth, as the sounds of lay.

verb (used with object)

to have the front toward; face: Our house fronts the lake.

to meet face to face; confront.

to face in opposition, hostility, or defiance.

to furnish or supply a front to: to front a building with sandstone.

to serve as a front to: A long, sloping lawn fronted their house.

Informal. to provide an introduction to; introduce: a recorded message that is fronted with a singing commercial.

to lead (a jazz or dance band).

Phonetics. to articulate (a speech sound) at a position farther front in the mouth.

Linguistics. to move (a constituent) to the beginning of a clause or sentence.

verb (used without object)

to have or turn the front in some specified direction: Our house fronts on the lake.

to serve as a cover or disguise for another activity, especially something of a disreputable or illegal nature: The shop fronts for a narcotics ring.

interjection

(used to call or command someone to come, look, etc., to the front, as in an order to troops on parade or in calling a hotel bellboy to the front desk): Front and center, on the double!

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about front

in front, in a forward place or position: Sit down, you in front!

in front of,

ahead of: to walk in front of a moving crowd.
outside the entrance of: to wait in front of a house.
in the presence of: to behave badly in front of company.

out front,

outside the entrance: He's waiting out front.
ahead of competitors: This advertising campaign ought to put our business way out front.
Theater. in the audience or auditorium.
Informal. candidly; frankly: Say what you mean out front.

up front, Informal.

in advance; before anything else: You'll have to make a payment of $5,000 up front.
frank; open; direct: I want you to be up front with me.

Origin of front

1250–1300; Middle English frount, front<Anglo-French, Old French <Latin front- (stem of frōns) forehead, brow, front

OTHER WORDS FROM front

un·front·ed, adjective

Other definitions for front (2 of 2)

front.

abbreviation

frontispiece.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use front in a sentence

In front of this strange structure are two blank-faced, well-dressed models showing off the latest in European minimalism.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As the protagonist gets herself off in front of her impotent husband, she moans “Oh, Gronky.”
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Granted, James is in an office in the Pentagon, and not on the front lines.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The next phase of the trial consists of vaccinating Ebola workers on the front lines.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Hmm, who are these people standing in front of the machines at the gym, neither occupying them nor not occupying them?
How to Survive the New Year ‘Gympocalypse’|Tim Teeman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Off went the officers again, some distance to the front, and then back again to their men, and got them on a little further.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
The doors (Indian bungalows have hardly any windows, each door being half glass) were open front and back.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
She got up and stood in front of the fire, having her hand on the chimney-piece and looking down at the blaze.
Confidence|Henry James
Then they all passed out through the great front door to the wide old veranda.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
He saw a large building, in front of which were long, slender strips of shining steel.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for front (1 of 2)

front

/ (frʌnt) /

noun

that part or side that is forward, prominent, or most often seen or used

a position or place directly before or aheada fountain stood at the front of the building

the beginning, opening, or first partthe front of the book

the position of leadership; forefront; vanguardin the front of scientific knowledge

land bordering a lake, street, etc

land along a seashore or large lake, esp a promenade

military

the total area in which opposing armies face each other
the lateral space in which a military unit or formation is operatingto advance on a broad front
the direction in which troops are facing when in a formed line

meteorol the dividing line or plane between two air masses or water masses of different origins and having different characteristicsSee also warm front, cold front

outward aspect or bearing, as when dealing with a situationa bold front

assurance, overconfidence, or effrontery

informal a business or other activity serving as a respectable cover for another, usually criminal, organization

mainly US a nominal leader of an organization, etc, who lacks real power or authority; figurehead

informal outward appearance of rank or wealth

a particular field of activity involving some kind of struggleon the wages front

a group of people with a common goala national liberation front

a false shirt front; a dicky

archaic the forehead or the face

adjective (prenominal)

of, at, or in the fronta front seat

phonetics of, relating to, or denoting a vowel articulated with the blade of the tongue brought forward and raised towards the hard palate, as for the sound of ee in English see or a in English hat

on the front foot at an advantage, outclassing and outmanoeuvring one's opponents

verb

(when intr, foll by on or onto) to be opposite (to); face (onto)this house fronts the river

(tr) to be a front of or for

(tr) informal to appear as a presenter in (a television show)

(tr) to be the lead singer or player in (a band)

(tr) to confront, esp in hostility or opposition

(tr) to supply a front for

(intr often foll by up) Australian and NZ informal to appear (at)to front up at the police station

Derived forms of front

frontless, adjective

Word Origin for front

C13 (in the sense: forehead, face): from Latin frōns forehead, foremost part

British Dictionary definitions for front (2 of 2)

front.

abbreviation for

frontispiece

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for front

front

[ frŭnt ]

The boundary between two air masses that have different temperatures or humidity. In the mid-latitude areas of the Earth, where warm tropical air meets cooler polar air, the systems of fronts define the weather and often cause precipitation to form. Warm air, being lighter than cold air, tends to rise, cool, and condense along such boundaries, forming rain or snow. See also cold front occluded front polar front stationary front warm front.

Cultural definitions for front

front

In meteorology, the line that forms the boundary between two air masses. Unless they are very similar in temperature and humidity, they will not mix.

notes for front

Fronts usually produce unstable weather.

Other Idioms and Phrases with front

front

In addition to the idioms beginning with front

front and center
front burner, on a
front office

also see:

brave face (front)
in front of
out front
up front

front

Idioms about front

Origin of front

OTHER WORDS FROM front

Other definitions for front (2 of 2)

Words related to front

How to use front in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for front (1 of 2)

Derived forms of front

Word Origin for front

British Dictionary definitions for front (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for front

Cultural definitions for front

notes for front

Other Idioms and Phrases with front