Phrase guide

up front

adj · adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I will be up front with you: what you are asking may be costly and difficult.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

At the beginning; before anything begins.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If we settle on the terms of the deal up front there will be much less arguing later.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

At the front.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • If you don't have anything to do up front, help organize the boxes in back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

In attacking positions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: szczery — open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful
  • Russian: откры́тый (otkrýtyj) — open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful
  • Russian: че́стный (čéstnyj) — open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful
  • Catalan: per anticipat — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • Finnish: aluksi — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • Finnish: alkuun — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • German: zu Anfang — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • German: anfangs — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • German: zuerst — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • Russian: зара́нее (zaráneje) — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • Russian: предвари́тельно (predvarítelʹno) — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • Russian: ава́нсом (avánsom) — at the beginning; before anything begins
  • German: vorne — at the front
  • German: im Vordergrund — at the front
  • German: vorn — at the front
  • Russian: впереди́ (vperedí) — at the front
  • French: en pointe — in an attacking position