front

FRUNT/fɹʌnt/

Pluralfronts

Adjectivefurther front, farther front, furthest front, farthest front

32 meanings of front

Practice

1
first partnounusually singular
The part or side of something that faces forward or comes first, like a building's entrance side or a book's first pages.
Like the nose of an airplane: the part that points the way ahead.
The front of the car was badly damaged in the crash.
She sat near the front so she could see the stage clearly.
UsageAt the front of the bus is inside it. In front of the bus is outside.
Oppositeback, rear
2
not rearadjective
Being at or near the part that faces forward.
The front seats of the car get the most sun.
He knocked on the front door and waited for an answer.
UsagePut it before a noun: the front door.
Oppositeback, rear
3
war zonenounusually singular
The place where two armies meet and fight in a war.
Like the edge where two crowds push hard against each other.
Thousands of soldiers were sent to the front to fight.
Letters from the front took weeks to reach home.
UsageSay soldiers go to the front.
Similarbattlefront
Oppositerear
Note
4
area of activitynouncountable
A particular area of work, effort, or activity.
Like one area of life, such as work or money.
Things are going well on the job front this month.
There was good news on the health front this week.
UsageSay on the money front, on the work front.
Similarside, area
Note
5
top spotnounusually singular
The most noticeable or important part of something.
Like the headline at the top of a newspaper page.
Safety concerns were pushed to the front of the discussion.
Her name was at the front of everyone's mind that day.
UsageSay to the front of something.
Similarforefront, top
Oppositeback
Note

Less common meanings

6
weathernouncountable
The line where two masses of air with different temperatures meet, often bringing rain.
Like a line where warm and cool air bump into each other.
A cold front moved in and brought heavy rain overnight.
The weather changed quickly as the front passed over the city.
UsageSay a cold front or a warm front.
Note
7
cover organizationnouncountable
A person or business used to hide someone else or a secret activity.
Like a fake store that hides a secret business behind it.
The little shop was just a front for illegal deals.
Police learned the company was a front for smugglers.
UsageSay a shop is a front for crime.
Similarcover, facade, screen, blind
8
false imagenouncolloquialusually singular
A false way of acting that hides how you really feel or who you really are.
Like a mask someone wears to hide their true feelings.
He put on a brave front even though he was scared.
Her cheerful front fooled everyone at the party.
UsageSay put on a front.
Similarfacade, act, show, mask, pretense
Note
9
lead (campaign)verbtransitive
To lead a group or speak for it in public.
Like being the captain who speaks for the whole team.
She agreed to front the campaign for clean water.
A famous singer fronts the charity drive this year.
UsageSay front a band or a campaign.
Similarlead, head, spearhead
Note
10
lend moneyverbcolloquialtransitive
To give someone money in advance, before it is paid back.
Like lending a friend money before they get paid.
Can you front me twenty dollars until payday?
Her brother fronted her the cash for the deposit.
UsageSay front someone money. In formal writing, say lend.
Similaradvance, lend, loan
Note
11
seaside walknounUKusually singular
The paved path or open area along the edge of the sea in a town.
Like a sidewalk that runs right next to the beach.
We walked along the front to look at the sea.
On sunny days the front fills up with families.
UsageSay on the front or along the front.
Similarpromenade, esplanade
Note
12
look out onverbtransitive
To face or look out toward something across from it.
Like a window that looks straight out onto the street.
The hotel rooms front the ocean.
Their house fronts a quiet park.
UsageSay the house fronts the river.
Similarface, overlook
Note
13
cover for (others)verbslangintransitive
To act as a cover for another person or group, hiding who is really responsible.
Like a store sign that hides what is really going on inside.
The shop was only there to front for a gambling ring.
He agreed to front for the real owners of the club.
UsageSay front for someone.
Similarcover
Note
14
put on an actverbslangintransitive
To pretend to be something you are not, to impress or fool people.
Like wearing a mask so people can't see how you really feel.
They always front when the cameras are on.
Stop fronting and admit you were scared.
UsageOften used as fronting or frontin'.
Similarpose, posture, pretend, bluff
Note
15
meet head-onverbtransitive
To meet a problem or person head-on instead of avoiding them.
Like turning to face a wave instead of running from it.
She decided to front her critics at the public meeting.
He had to front the angry crowd alone.
Similarconfront, face
Oppositeavoid, evade, dodge
Note
16
cover the outsideverbtransitive
To decorate the front of something, or to add something to its front.
Like putting a fancy cover on the front of a book.
They fronted the building with marble columns.
Builders often front new houses with brick.
UsageSay a house is fronted with brick.
Similarface
17
get aggressiveverbslangtransitive or intransitive
To act tough and aggressive, or to challenge someone directly.
Like a dog puffing up and barking to look scary.
Some guy tried to front on me at the bus stop.
He fronted the new kid just to look tough.
Similarconfront, posture, swagger
Note
18
tooth jewelrynounslangcountableplural
A piece of metal jewelry worn over the front teeth.
Like a shiny cap that snaps over your teeth.
He flashed a gold front when he smiled.
She saved up to buy a diamond front for her teeth.
Similargrill
Note
19
vowel typeadjective
Made with the tongue raised toward the front of the mouth, used to describe certain vowel sounds.
Like pushing your tongue toward your front teeth when you say 'ee'.
The vowel in 'bed' is a front vowel.
Children learn front vowels like the 'ee' in 'feet' early on.
Oppositeback
Note
20
hotel callinterjection
Called out to summon a hotel worker, such as a bellhop, to come and help.
Like calling 'Next!' to bring the next worker over.
“Front!” the manager shouted, and a bellhop rushed to grab the bags.
She tapped the bell and called out, “Front!”
Note
21
cheeknoundateduncountable
A bold, rude kind of confidence that lets someone act without any shame.
He had the front to ask me for money after lying to me.
It takes a lot of front to ask your teacher for extra points after you skipped the test.
UsageSay have the front to do something.
Similaraudacity, nerve, cheek, effrontery, gall
Note
22
noun
The width of ground a unit takes up, from one side to the other.
23
verb
To say a sound with the tongue moved toward the front of the mouth.
24
verb
To move a word or phrase to the beginning of a sentence.
25
adjective
Closest to ending soon, used for the trading contract that finishes first.
26
verb
For one identity in a person with many, to be the one in control of the body at a given time.
27
noun
A very large group of armies in the Soviet military.
28
noundated
One of the two breasts on a female chest.
Turning their Backs... ON FRONTS. CONVIVIAL WAITRESS: D... Don't you want to ogle me? SICKO MILLENNIAL: No... I hate breasts!
2019, Ward Sutton as Stan Kelly, “Wings And A Pair”
29
noun
False hair women wore at the top of the forehead.
like any plain Miss Smith's, who wears a front
1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh
30
nounobsolete
The area over the eyebrows, or at times all of the face.
His front yet threatens, and his frowns command.
c. 1700, Matthew Prior, Seeing the Duke of Ormond's Picture at Sir Godfrey Kneller's
31
noundated
The hotel porter who must go next when a guest needs help.
32
verb
To appear before a person or group, such as a judge or court.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of front apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin frōns, meaning "forehead," which came into English through Old French.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

English front ultimately derives from Latin frōns through Old French. en.wiktionary.org
Latin frōns means forehead. en.wiktionary.org