upfront

British  

/ ˈʌpˈfrʌnt /

adjective

1. informal open, frank, honest

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adverb

1. (of money) paid out at the beginning of a business arrangement

Explanation

If you're an open and straightforward person, you're upfront. And if your cousin asks what you think of his weird new haircut, you'll be upfront with him and tell the truth. If you prefer being flattered, you might not appreciate your brother's upfront pronouncement that your new pants are way too small or you've got spinach in your teeth. But most of us like knowing that our friends are being upfront and honest with us. Another way to use this adjective is to mean "in advance" when you're talking about a payment: "She wants the cash upfront, before she hands over the cupcakes."

Example Sentences

While paying dividends means investors get cash right away, buybacks reduce a company’s share count, which tends to boost the share price and doesn’t trigger upfront tax bills for investors.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Under the deal, Roche agreed to pay $750 million upfront, with up to $300 million in additional payments subject to targets, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

We used the opportunity to be upfront about other elements of our finances.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Morrell, who talks about "pothole Britain", advised councillors to get on top of the detail, be upfront about the scale of the challenge and outline a realistic plan should they win power.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

“It takes a lot of guts to be as upfront as he is. I meant what I said at Khalil’s funeral, Starr. It was very brave of you to talk to the police.”

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• authentic
• conscientious
• decent
• equitable
• fair
• forthright
• genuine
• honorable
• impartial
• proper
• reliable
• sincere
• straightforward
• true
• trustworthy
• virtuous