ˌəp-ˈfrənt 
ˈəp-ˌfrənt
: being or coming in or at the front: such as
a(1)
: frank, forthright
(2)
: being in a conspicuous or leading position
b
: paid or payable in advance
c
: playing in a front line (as in football)
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
Chris Perry, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Baker also won Best Director at the Spirits, stealing headlines with a semi-viral acceptance speech demanding higher up-front fees for filmmakers.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025
Roger Valdez, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, mortgage lenders tend to offer better loan terms to borrowers who put more cash up front, or make 20% down payments.
—Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up-front
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
The expense wasn’t just the up-front cost of the phone; actually using the phone was exorbitantly expensive.
—Chris Perry, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Baker also won Best Director at the Spirits, stealing headlines with a semi-viral acceptance speech demanding higher up-front fees for filmmakers.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025
Adverb
Outright ownership while paying a mortgage is a far-off thing, after paying lots of interest up front.
—Roger Valdez, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, mortgage lenders tend to offer better loan terms to borrowers who put more cash up front, or make 20% down payments.
—Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
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 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share