variants or upfront
Synonyms of up-frontnext
: being or coming in or at the front: such as
a(1)
: frank, forthright
were up-front about their suspicions
(2)
: being in a conspicuous or leading position
b
: paid or payable in advance
up-front cash
c
: playing in a front line (as in football)

up front

2 of 2

adverb

1
: in or at the front
chose a seat up front
2
: in advance
paid up front
3
: in an up-front manner : frankly, forthrightly
expressed his doubts up front

Examples of up-front in a Sentence

Adjective some hurt feelings could have been spared if he'd been more up-front about whom he was inviting to the party
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Instead, clients pay an up-front integration fee for Ultra to install the robots, and then an ongoing monthly fee for ongoing hardware and software support. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 Bathrooms can be on the small side and not all of them have tubs, so be sure to ask up-front, if that’s important to you. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Florida wasn’t flawless up front, committing multiple false starts on a day when Sumrall’s team had 55 yards on seven penalites. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026 Its boosted flat-six engine receives a power bump, and rear-axle steering is now standard, as are larger brakes with six-piston calipers up front. — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for up-front

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1945, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of up-front was in 1937

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Up-front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up-front. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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