ˌəp-ˈfrənt 
ˈəp-ˌfrənt
: 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
Camila Domonoske, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
One concern among investors is that margins are coming down, at least in the short term, due to higher up-front costs.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Dec. 2025
With a 911 operator on the phone, the man walked back up front to ask the bus driver to tell them what happened.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up-front
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Adjective
Lower fuel and maintenance costs can't always overcome that up-front sticker shock, even for people who are hypothetically interested in buying.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
One concern among investors is that margins are coming down, at least in the short term, due to higher up-front costs.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
Adverb
Elevate has agreed to pay UCLA $4 million up front as part of a five-year ticketing revenue-share arrangement that grants the company a commission fee of 5% on the Bruins’ net ticket revenue, provided the university sells at least $100 million of athletic tickets over the term.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Dec. 2025
With a 911 operator on the phone, the man walked back up front to ask the bus driver to tell them what happened.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 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 3 Jan. 2026.
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