up-front

American  

[uhp-fruhnt] / ˈʌpˈfrʌnt /

adjective

1. invested or paid in advance or as beginning capital.

   an up-front fee of five percent and an additional five percent when the job is done.

2. honest; candid; straightforward.

   He's very up-front about discussing his past.

3. conspicuous or prominent.

   The company has an up-front position in its industry.

4. located in the front or forward section.

   to request up-front seats on a plane.

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adverb

1. as an initial investment, beginning capital, or an advance payment.

   They'll need a half-million dollars up-front before opening the business.

2. before other payments, deductions, or returning a profit.

   Estimated operating expenses will be deducted up-front.

up front Idioms  

1. In the forward section, as of an airplane or theater. For example, We'd like two seats as far up front as possible . [First half of 1900s]

2. Paid in advance, as in We need at least half of the money for the production up front . [ Colloquial ; c. 1930]

3. Candid, direct, as in Now tell me straight up front what you think of this outfit . [Second half of 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of up-front

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

These are broad-brush figures, but how do you make heat pumps pay, given their generally higher up-front cost?

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

And it would speed up-front payments to policyholders whose homes have burned down.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2026

Your favorite store might offer enticing up-front benefits to hook you.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 16, 2025

He thinks that Westpac’s strategic plan looks sensible given the lender’s requirements, but points out that it requires significant up-front investment and that productivity benefits won’t emerge until FY 2028.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

Well, she’s gotten a lot more up-front with her enjoyment of our friendship, I guess would be the way to put it.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone