ˌəp-ˈfrənt 
ˈəp-ˌfrənt
variants
or upfront
: 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)
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
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
This case study makes clear that the main cost of change is up-front design and material R&D, not the printing itself.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Vadim Rizov, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Fixing architecture later is exponentially more costly than getting it right up front.
—Ethan Pham, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for up-front
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
In a presentation for young athletes — and for the pro teams and college athletic departments that might invite him to speak — Stripling’s firm uses his story of a baseball prospect that got a $900,000 up-front payment and spent the $500,000 after taxes on a red Lamborghini.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
This case study makes clear that the main cost of change is up-front design and material R&D, not the printing itself.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Adverb
In one scene, Misael disappears entirely from the forest as the canine roams around in the background while a calf grazes up front.
—Vadim Rizov, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Fixing architecture later is exponentially more costly than getting it right up front.
—Ethan Pham, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for up-front
Cite this Entry
“Up-front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up-front. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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