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• up-front
  up-front

  adjective

  invested or paid in advance or as beginning capital.
• up front
  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]

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

See Examples For:

up-front up front

Burnham will be able to pick up these proposals, although they might come with an up-front cost attached if they involve greater investment in training opportunities or guaranteed work placements.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

There are several variables when it comes to up-front and ongoing costs of using grass, especially in domed stadiums where permanent ultraviolet grow-light systems, drainage and irrigation would need to be installed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 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

“I’ve always been honest and up-front with you.”

From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea

Contributions are in after-tax dollars, so tax is paid up front.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

"His mental strength, tactical ability, the way he recovers the ball, the way he pressures, the way he plays up front, I am very happy."

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

I need to acknowledge up front that it is unwise for anybody—including me—to deduce any comprehensive conclusions about the Democratic Party and where it’s headed from Wisconsin’s gubernatorial primary last week.

From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026

But I find “One Night Only” to be a far more interesting film because it doesn’t answer everything up front or take the blanket optimist’s route.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

I looked up front at Wynn, driving and smiling in that same kind of comforted way.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry