front
fruhnt
Front (noun) means the forward-facing part or side of something. Example: “Park the car at the front of the building.”
noun
1
The forward-facing part or side of something.
"Park the car at the front of the building."
"The front of the shirt had a small pocket."
"Please wait at the front of the queue until your name is called."
2
A field of activity or effort, especially when several are happening at once.
"The government is under pressure on several fronts."
"The team is making progress on every front, from design to sales."
"Things are quiet on the home front, but busy at work."
3
A person, business, or activity that conceals something else, usually illegal.
"The laundromat was a front for a money-laundering operation."
"The little shop was only a front for something far less honest."
"Investigators found that the charity was a front used to hide stolen cash."
4
A false or fake appearance put on to impress or mislead others.
"He puts up a tough front, but he's actually quite shy."
"Behind her cheerful front, she was worried sick about the exam."
"His confident front fell away as soon as he got home."
5
Weather: the boundary between two air masses of different temperature, often bringing rain.
"A cold front is moving in from the west."
"A warm front will bring cloud and drizzle to the coast tomorrow."
"The storm arrived as a cold front swept across the country."
verb
1
To lead or act as the public face of something, such as a band or campaign.
"He fronts one of the most popular rock bands in the country."
"A well-known actor will front the new charity campaign."
"She fronted the television programme for ten years before retiring."
2
To face toward a particular direction.
"The hotel fronts onto the beach."
"Our flat fronts onto a quiet park, so the mornings are peaceful."
"The old cottages front the river and have lovely views."
How to use front
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe forward side of something; also a field of activity, a cover for something hidden, or a fake persona.
Common pairings
up front
put on a front
front line
cold front
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Word forms
- Plural
- fronts
- Third person singular
- fronts
- Past tense
- fronted
- Comparative
- further front, farther front
- Superlative
- furthest front, farthest front
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Park the car at the _____ of the building.
Etymology
From Old French front, from Latin frōns, frontem ("forehead, front").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for front
See all rhymes for front →Frequently asked questions
What does “front” mean?
The word “front” means the forward-facing part or side of something. In plain terms, the forward side of something; also a field of activity, a cover for something hidden, or a fake persona.
How do you pronounce “front”?
“Front” is pronounced fruhnt (/fɹʌnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “front” in a sentence?
Here is “front” used in a sentence: “Park the car at the front of the building.”
What is another word for “front”?
Words with a similar meaning to “front” include fore.
What is the opposite of “front”?
The opposite of “front” — its antonyms — are back, rear, derrière and last.
What part of speech is “front”?
Depending on how it is used, “front” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “front” come from?
The word “front” comes from Latin. From Old French front, from Latin frōns, frontem ("forehead, front").
Is “front” a common word?
“Front” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the opposite of front?
The opposite of front is back or rear — the side that faces away from the main view or direction of travel. The front of a house faces the street while the back faces the garden; the front of a queue is where you are served, the rear where you join.
What are the different meanings of 'front'?
Besides the forward-facing side of something, 'front' has several senses. In weather it is the boundary between two air masses, as in a cold front. In war it is the line where opposing armies meet. Figuratively, a front is an outward show that hides someone's true feelings or activities.
What is the difference between 'front' and 'forward'?
'Front' is usually a noun naming the forward part of something — the front of the car. 'Forward' is mainly an adjective or adverb describing direction or movement toward the front — step forward, forward motion. So the front is a place, while forward is the way you head toward it.
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