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• front end
  front end

  noun

  the front part of something.
• front-end
  front-end

  adjective

  being or relating to the front part of something.

front end

¹ American  

[fruhnt end] / ˈfrʌnt ˈɛnd /

front-end

noun

1. the front part of something.

   The frame, front end, and handlebars are all constructed from alloy tubing.

2. the earlier part of a process or span of time.

   Faculty members hope to be included at the front end of these new initiatives, rather than only in the final implementation.

3. Computers. Sometimes frontend the parts of a computer program, website, system, network, etc., that the user can see or directly interact with.

   Our simple front end is designed so customers and users can easily navigate toward the information and products you want them to see.

   What front end do you use for your point-of-sale system?

4. the part of an organization or process that operates in the foreground or in the public view.

   Working the front end at a grocery store I did everything from cashier to fetching carts from the parking lot.

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front-end ² American  

[fruhnt-end] / ˈfrʌntˌɛnd /

adjective

1. being or relating to the front part of something.

   The vehicle had significant front-end damage and a smashed windshield.

2. happening or (of costs) incurred earlier in a process or in a span of time.

   One of the real problems with solar energy is the front-end cost.

   The time you invest in front-end planning will pay off in the later stages of the project.

3. Computers. Also frontend being or relating to those parts of a computer program, website, system, network, etc., that the user can see or directly interact with.

   Changes in the system architecture allowed for a much simpler front-end interface.

   I’ve been teaching website design and front-end development for about six years.

4. being or relating to the part of an organization or process that operates in the foreground or in the public view.

   In my last job, I oversaw front-end operations and supervised up to 20 cashiers and baggers.

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front-end British  

adjective

1. (of money, costs, etc) required or incurred in advance of a project in order to get it under way

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Etymology

Origin of front end¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Origin of front-end²

First recorded in 1935–40, in reference to electronics

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

front end front-end

It’s more of a balance of listening on the front end of what customers are telling them, what are products that really resonate and then doing our very best to get people excited to train.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

On the front end, Snider isn’t expecting any big changes in AI capex forecasts, which sit near the $720 billion mark for this year alone for the market’s biggest hyperscalers.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

“The mini tsunami of released barrels is weighing on the front end of the futures curve, while refined fuel markets remain tight,” strategists at ING, led by Warren Patterson, wrote in a note on Friday.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026

By mid-2020, Peng “was no longer merely influencing the front end of procurements; she was requesting and managing a series of high-dollar Innive change orders herself,” the complaint states.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

He was standing near the front end of the cart, amidst an assorted pile of cigarette boxes, egg cartons, and pop bottles.

From "Forged by Fire" by Sharon M. Draper

Intel is continuing to put its limited supply of front-end wafers toward server chips rather than PC chips, Susquehanna analyst Christopher Rolland said in a note to clients.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

“As such, we see scope for rate hike expectations to rise and lift front-end yields higher,” Heng added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

The front wheels of the trailer appear to be on top of an unidentified sedan, which also suffered front-end damage.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026

Witnesses contacted police after seeing the Mercedes with extensive front-end damage to it including a "crumpled bonnet".

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026

At one point, to reward McCandless with a task that involved slightly more skill, Westerberg attempted to teach him to operate a front-end loader.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer