1
a
: forehead
also
: the whole face
b
: external and often feigned appearance especially in the face of danger or adversity
2
3
: a side of a building
especially
: the side that contains the principal entrance
4
a
: the forward part or surface
b(1)
: frontage
(2)
: a beach promenade at a seaside resort
c
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
fronted; fronting; fronts
1
: to have the front or principal side adjacent to something
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
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
Chloë Grace MoretzLook, we all know you got your heart broken. Stop fronting and write a love song.—Allison Keyes
Allison Keyes1
a
: confront
went to the woods because I wished … to front only the essential facts of life—H. D. Thoreau
H. D. Thoreau
b
: to appear before
daily fronted him in some fresh splendor—Alfred Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson2
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.
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
Synonyms
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 WebOkla Jones, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024
Alayna made her entrance down an elegant mirror aisle with white flowers on each side, which led to a stunning arch draped in lush greenery and delicate white florals all set in front of the ocean.
—Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The Pentagon warned that Ukraine would have insufficient ammunition left to fight off Russian advances at the front; in Ukrainian cities, Russian missiles barraged civilian targets and took out energy infrastructure because Kyiv no longer had adequate air defenses.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024
Anderson then motioned to some children sitting in the front row.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Those doing the actual fighting stress that the will and desire to serve is essential to be of any value on the front.
—Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2024
There’s a gentle curve to the bridge at the front of the frames and what almost looks like horseshoes on the hinges that connect the temples to the lenses.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
This short sarong has layered panels for fuller coverage with plenty of fabric to tie in the front.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
Then, this past January, a trailer appeared online with a Universal logo attached to the front and a spring release date.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
Sundowners are best enjoyed in Off the Lip, a 25-seat lobby bar fronted by an infinity edge feature that amplifies those fiery sunsets.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
Now, after decades in which the group’s music only continued to find new fans, Jakob has joined his dad’s former bandmates, drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, to front a new version of Sublime.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
That growing skill set would eventually parlay itself into LeBlanc fronting his own group.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Taking over the property’s penthouse suite, which makes a hotel dinner party feel like a warm gathering at someone’s ultra-luxe apartment, the brand’s Erik Torstensson celebrated the new campaign fronted by Amelia Gray, who co-hosted the evening.
—Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Bon Jovi scores the second-loftiest opening of the week, as a charity single fronted by Mark Knopfler debuts at No. 1.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The catch is, the vocalist, known for her powerful voice and onstage attitude, will front the band for four dates only.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
If Trump is unable to secure the cash — or unless the appeals court agrees to grant his motion to delay fronting the money until after the appeal is heard — New York Attorney General Letitia James may begin seizing some of his assets to finance his obligation to the state.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024
Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2024
Bourbon, as with the Fancy Free, tends to step on the maraschino’s toes a little, but (most) rye whiskey’s relative lack of a bold front palate allows the seductive charms of the maraschino to express itself.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2024
Each is designed with a bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen, front porch and small lawn.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
On grand opening day, the line into the restaurant wrapped around the famous front porch, one hungry customer after the other excited to step inside the building for the first time.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
These ornate instruments also make lovely decorations for a Southern front porch, garden, or gazebo.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
This pair stands out thanks to its split hem and zippered front pockets.
—Kristin Canning, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
Eunice Fried, 94, wrote ‘What Every Woman Should Know About Wine’ to teach women to take charge of the bottle
NEW YORK — No fewer than six bottles of champagne nestle in Eunice Fried’s refrigerator, and several dozen other bottles of wine fill a 6-foot-tall rack by the front door.
—Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The walls and walkway leading to the front door were grimy.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
Everyone wants that front row seat at the Louis Vuitton Runway Show for Paris Fashion Week.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024
Alayna made her entrance down an elegant mirror aisle with white flowers on each side, which led to a stunning arch draped in lush greenery and delicate white florals all set in front of the ocean.
—Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The Pentagon warned that Ukraine would have insufficient ammunition left to fight off Russian advances at the front; in Ukrainian cities, Russian missiles barraged civilian targets and took out energy infrastructure because Kyiv no longer had adequate air defenses.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024
Anderson then motioned to some children sitting in the front row.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Those doing the actual fighting stress that the will and desire to serve is essential to be of any value on the front.
—Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2024
There’s a gentle curve to the bridge at the front of the frames and what almost looks like horseshoes on the hinges that connect the temples to the lenses.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
This short sarong has layered panels for fuller coverage with plenty of fabric to tie in the front.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
Then, this past January, a trailer appeared online with a Universal logo attached to the front and a spring release date.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
Verb
But given that the biggest players in tech and finance appear to be the only ones capable of fronting the massive amounts of money required to fund AI infrastructure projects, observers have called for intervention to prevent them from dominating the sector and keeping competitors out.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
Sundowners are best enjoyed in Off the Lip, a 25-seat lobby bar fronted by an infinity edge feature that amplifies those fiery sunsets.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
Now, after decades in which the group’s music only continued to find new fans, Jakob has joined his dad’s former bandmates, drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, to front a new version of Sublime.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
That growing skill set would eventually parlay itself into LeBlanc fronting his own group.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Taking over the property’s penthouse suite, which makes a hotel dinner party feel like a warm gathering at someone’s ultra-luxe apartment, the brand’s Erik Torstensson celebrated the new campaign fronted by Amelia Gray, who co-hosted the evening.
—Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Bon Jovi scores the second-loftiest opening of the week, as a charity single fronted by Mark Knopfler debuts at No. 1.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The catch is, the vocalist, known for her powerful voice and onstage attitude, will front the band for four dates only.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
If Trump is unable to secure the cash — or unless the appeals court agrees to grant his motion to delay fronting the money until after the appeal is heard — New York Attorney General Letitia James may begin seizing some of his assets to finance his obligation to the state.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024
Adjective
A little girl riding on her dad's back was wearing ear protection and had a missing front tooth.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2024
Bourbon, as with the Fancy Free, tends to step on the maraschino’s toes a little, but (most) rye whiskey’s relative lack of a bold front palate allows the seductive charms of the maraschino to express itself.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2024
Each is designed with a bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen, front porch and small lawn.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
On grand opening day, the line into the restaurant wrapped around the famous front porch, one hungry customer after the other excited to step inside the building for the first time.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
These ornate instruments also make lovely decorations for a Southern front porch, garden, or gazebo.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
This pair stands out thanks to its split hem and zippered front pockets.
—Kristin Canning, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
Eunice Fried, 94, wrote ‘What Every Woman Should Know About Wine’ to teach women to take charge of the bottle
NEW YORK — No fewer than six bottles of champagne nestle in Eunice Fried’s refrigerator, and several dozen other bottles of wine fill a 6-foot-tall rack by the front door.
—Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The walls and walkway leading to the front door were grimy.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near front
Cite this Entry
“Front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
front
1 of 3 noun1
: 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
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