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.
honest; candid; straightforward.
He's very up-front about discussing his past.
conspicuous or prominent.
The company has an up-front position in its industry.
located in the front or forward section.
to request up-front seats on a plane.
as an initial investment, beginning capital, or an advance payment.
They'll need a half-million dollars up-front before opening the business.
before other payments, deductions, or returning a profit.
Estimated operating expenses will be deducted up-front.
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]
Paid in advance, as in We need at least half of the money for the production up front . [ Colloquial ; c. 1930]
Candid, direct, as in Now tell me straight up front what you think of this outfit . [Second half of 1900s]
First recorded in 1965–70
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He paid the full £2,258 up-front after GVI advised him there would be a discount for doing so.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
New contracts come with up-front financial commitments, which provide downside protection for the company, allowing Sandisk to lock in customers at rates that could make earnings more predictable over a longer duration.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
The money can be used to pay up-front for equipment that utilities will need to build the plants, which are expected to be co-owned by utilities and nuclear designer Westinghouse.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
The higher up-front costs still outweigh savings at the pump, Al Root writes for Barron’s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
“I know you didn’t ask for my advice, but I’m giving it to you anyway. For Jupiter’s sake. You need to be up-front with her, Rae-Bee.”
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
“We knew we were paying more up front, but it’d be valuable to us later. Those extra costs in the beginning mean we don’t have to deal with it now.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
They are a powerful side and skilful too, but key forward Ismael Saibari's injury is a blow too and I am not really sure if they can hurt France without him up front.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Lithium-ion batteries are still cheaper, at least up front.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Barnum, they were up front about it all.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
On the bus, Jeff swung into a seat up front that already had someone sitting by the window.
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
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.
