front

1 of 4

noun

1
a
: forehead
also : the whole face
b
: external and often feigned appearance especially in the face of danger or adversity
2
a(1)
(2)
: a line of battle
(3)
: a zone of conflict between armies
b(1)
: a stand on an issue : policy
(2)
: an area of activity or interest
progress on the educational front
(3)
: a movement linking divergent elements to achieve common objectives
especially : a political coalition
3
: a side of a building
especially : the side that contains the principal entrance
4
a
: the forward part or surface
b(1)
(2)
: a beach promenade at a seaside resort
d
: the boundary between two dissimilar air masses
5
archaic : beginning
6
a(1)
: a position ahead of a person or of the foremost part of a thing
(2)
used as a call by a hotel desk clerk in summoning a bellhop
b
: a position of leadership or superiority
7
a
: a person, group, or thing used to mask the identity or true character or activity of the actual controlling agent
b
: a person who serves as the nominal head or spokesman of an enterprise or group to lend it prestige

front

2 of 4

verb

fronted; fronting; fronts

intransitive verb

1
: to have the front or principal side adjacent to something
also : to have frontage on something
a ten-acre plot fronting on a lake Current Biography
2
a
: to act or serve as a cover or front (see front entry 1 sense 7a) for something or someone
… a new initiative targeting brothels and massage parlors fronting for sex trafficking rings.St. John Barned-Smith
b
US, informal : to assume a fake or false personality to conceal one's true identity and character
Don't front, don't put something out there that you feel isn't realistic and doesn't portray who you are.Chloë Grace Moretz
Look, we all know you got your heart broken. Stop fronting and write a love song.Allison Keyes

transitive verb

1
a
: confront
went to the woods because I wished … to front only the essential facts of lifeH. D. Thoreau
b
: to appear before
daily fronted him in some fresh splendorAlfred Tennyson
2
a
: to be in front of
a lawn fronting the house
b
: to be the leader of (a musical group)
appeared as a soloist and fronted bands
3
: to face toward or have frontage on
the house fronts the street
4
: to supply a front to
fronted the building with bricks
5
a
: to articulate (a sound) with the tongue farther forward
b
: to move (a word or phrase) to the beginning of a sentence
6
basketball : to play in front of (an opposing player) rather than between the player and the basket
7
: to give (someone) the money, material, etc. needed to do something : advance sense 7
She fronted them a loan to get the start-up going.

front

3 of 4

adjective

1
a
: of, relating to, or situated at the front
b
: acting as a front
front company
2
: articulated at or toward the front of the oral passage
front vowels
3
: constituting the first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course
front adverb

front

4 of 4

abbreviation

Phrases
in front of
: directly before or ahead of
out front
: in the audience

Examples of front in a Sentence

Noun the front of the church features a magnificent stained-glass window that smile is just a front—I don't think she actually likes me at all Verb The house fronts Main Street. The house fronts on Main Street. He is now fronting a different band. He fronts a talk show. Adjective There's a small statue on the front lawn. He keeps his wallet in his front pocket.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Just 4:30 later, after Kostin’s shot on net was blocked, Vlasic picked up the loose puck, skated below the goal line, and put a shot toward the front of the Pittsburgh net. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Shrestha has installed a line of concrete posts along the front of Eddie’s, making another vehicle drive-through less likely. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Orchid Cove Key Largo Florida The koi pond at the front of the house. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024 One change was adding more gifting options near the front by the registers. Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 At one point, Gosling turned the mic over to Barbie director Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie and America Ferrera to sing a few lines from the front row. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 New measures among law enforcement recommendations, county says In coming meetings, county officials will have security staff escort public speakers to and from the podium at the front of the room during public comment. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Cascio walked past a tiny machine for making gingersnaps and a small burglar-proof safe, before stopping in front of a tin evaporating pan, accessorized with rotating brass blades and powered by a wooden wheel. Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 On the front of her wardrobe, the seven appeared to be signed by Ronaldo. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
On Thursday, the iconic rock act — fronted by Jon Bon Jovi and featuring keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X and bassist Hugh McDonald — announced its 16th studio album Forever, due June 7 via Island Records. Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 An impressive range of amenities is also available on-site — a postcard-worthy beach fronts the property, while those who prefer to lounge by the pool have three to choose from. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 That tune, which fronted her album Hard Candy, racked up 29 turns on the tally starting in the spring of 2008. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Instead, Bowser called for Monumental to front the full cost of the project and for the District government to pay back its share over six to 10 years. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024 In addition to garaging for up to five cars, the residence is fronted by a sizable cobblestone motorcourt. James McClain, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 The multi-hyphenate became a Versace muse last year, fronting the Italian label's spring 2023 Icons campaign. Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 The tune is fronted by her father and his collaborator Ty Dolla $ign, who recently released an album together. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Within months, with Mr. Morris fronting the costs, Mr. Lowell had filed suits against the computer repair shop owner, the I.R.S., Rudolph W. Giuliani and others. Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Like, there wouldn’t have been anybody who walked through that front door who would’ve been good enough for their daughter, and that’s something every parent can relate to. Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 The collision killed the Jeep's front passenger and broke the femur of a passenger sitting in the rear. The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 Right now, Amazon has more than 50,000 outdoor spring decorations for a front porch refresh. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 And, thanks to the thin material, your front door will easily glide over it. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 The tankini top features a retro twist on the front and criss-cross straps in the back, which are adjustable to find the best fit for your body. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 Imagine opening your front door wide and inviting the world to listen in on your most private conversations. Robin Chataut, Discover Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 Annalisa, on the other hand, was a real person, a student who always sat in the front row of my freshman comp class 13 years ago. John M. Crisp, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Keep your wallets and phones in a front pants pocket. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'front.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French frunt, front, from Latin front-, frons

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1523, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of front was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near front

Cite this Entry

“Front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

front

1 of 3 noun
1
: outer often pretended appearance
put up a good front
2
: a region in which active warfare is taking place
3
: the forward part or surface
the front of a shirt
the front of the house
4
: the boundary between two dissimilar air masses
5
: someone or something that hides the true identity of those who are in control
a front for organized crime

front

2 of 3 verb
: to have the front or face toward
the cottage fronting on the lake
the house fronts the street

front

3 of 3 adjective
: of, relating to, or situated at the front

Legal Definition

front

noun
: something or someone (as a person or group) used to mask the identity or true character or activity of the actual person or organization in control
front verb

More from Merriam-Webster on front

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