up-front

[ uhp-fruhnt ]

/ ˈʌpˈfrʌnt /

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adjective Also upfront .

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.

adverb Also up front .

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.

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Origin of up-front

First recorded in 1965–70

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use up-front in a sentence

All of that required an upfront investment from Nataly and me.
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At its upfront presentation in May, CEO Mike Hopkins said Hulu plans to triple its investment in original content.
Hulu’s Very Funny ‘Hotwives of Orlando’ Takes on Netflix|Kevin Fallon|July 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, the upfront cost might be higher than the old-fashioned bulbs.
The Chicken Littles Are Wrong: Environmental Regulations Always Spur Innovation|Daniel Gross|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Homeowners may want them on their roofs—but not for $30,000 upfront.
Solar Panels Now Being Offered as a Prebuilt Feature in California|Daniel Gross|May 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They get money upfront and never have to deliver any goods or services.
Buying a Gift Card Is Really Making a Free Loan to Big Business|Daniel Gross|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for up-front

upfront

/ (ˈʌpˈfrʌnt) /

adjective

informal open, frank, honest

adverb, adjective

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with 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]

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]