in front of

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

front /frʌnt/   n. [countable]

1. the forward part or surface of anything:
   [the + ~] I sat in the front of the airplane.
2. the part or side of anything that faces forward:
   I spilled some mustard on the front of my jacket.
3. the part or side of anything, as a building, that is situated or directed forward:
   sat in the front of the restaurant.
See in front and in front of below.
4. land facing a road, river, etc.;
   frontage.
5. Military [the + ~]
   • a line of battle;
     the place where combat operations are carried on:
     The soldiers retreated from the front.
6. an area of activity, conflict, or competition:
   news from the business front.
7. a person or thing that serves as a cover or disguise for some other activity, esp. one of a secret, dishonest, or illegal nature:
   The store was a front for gamblers.
8. bearing, expression, or attitude in facing, confronting or dealing with anything:
   [usually singular] She kept a calm front throughout the ordeal.
9. Meteorology a zone or line between two different air masses:
   a cold front coming from the north into our region.

adj. [before a noun]

10. of or relating to the front;
    situated in or at the front:
    front seats.

v. 

11. to have the front toward;
    face:
    [~ + object] Our house fronts the lake.
12. to furnish or supply a front to:
    [~ + object] to front a building with sandstone.
13. to serve as a front to:
    [~ + object] A long, sloping lawn fronted their house.
14. • [~ + for + object] to serve as a cover or disguise:
      The shop fronts for a narcotics ring.
    • [~ + as + noun] to be disguised as:
      The drug warehouse fronted as a quiet little grocery store.

Idioms

15. Idioms in front, in a forward place or position:
    My family was sitting in front, but I stayed in back.
16. Idioms in front of:
    • ahead of:
      They were sitting in front of me.
    • outside the entrance of:
      We met in front of the hotel.
    • in the presence of:
      Don't talk like that in front of the children.
17. Idioms, Show Business out front:
    • outside the entrance:
      Let's meet out front.
    • ahead of competitors:
      The runner from Kenya was out front for most of the race.
18. Idioms, Informal Terms up front, [Informal.]
    • in advance;
      before anything else:
      You'll have to make a payment of $5,000 up front.
    • frank;
      honest:
      to be up front in your answers.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

front  (frunt), n. 

1. the foremost part or surface of anything.
2. the part or side of anything that faces forward:
   the front of a jacket.
3. the part or side of anything, as a building, that seems to look out or to be directed forward:
   He sat in the front of the restaurant.
4. any side or face, as of a building.
5. Building, Architecture a façade, considered with respect to its architectural treatment or material:
   a cast-iron front.
6. a property line along a street or the like:
   a fifty-foot front.
7. a place or position directly before anything:
   We decided to plant trees in the front.
8. a position of leadership in a particular endeavor or field:
   She rose to the front of her profession.
9. Military
   • the foremost line or part of an army.
   • a line of battle.
   • the place where combat operations are carried on.
10. an area of activity, conflict, or competition:
    news from the business front.
11. land facing a road, river, etc.
12. British Terms a promenade along a seashore.
13. Informal Terms a distinguished person listed as an official of an organization, for the sake of prestige, and who is usually inactive.
14. a person or thing that serves as a cover or disguise for some other activity, esp. one of a secret, disreputable, or illegal nature;
    a blind:
    The store was a front for foreign agents.
15. outward impression of rank, position, or wealth.
16. bearing or demeanor in confronting anything:
    a calm front.
17. haughtiness;
    self-importance:
    That clerk has the most outrageous front.
18. Anatomy the forehead, or the entire face:
    the statue's gracefully chiseled front.
19. a coalition or movement to achieve a particular end, usually political:
    the people's front.
20. something attached or worn at the breast, as a shirt front or a dickey:
    to spill gravy down one's front.
21. Meteorology an interface or zone of transition between two dissimilar air masses.
22. Show Business [Theat.]
    • Show Business the auditorium.
    • the business offices of a theater.
    • the front of the stage;
      downstage.
23. Idioms in front, in a forward place or position:
    Sit down, you in front!
24. Idioms in front of:
    • ahead of:
      to walk in front of a moving crowd.
    • outside the entrance of:
      to wait in front of a house.
    • in the presence of:
      to behave badly in front of company.
25. out front:
    • outside the entrance:
      He's waiting out front.
    • ahead of competitors:
      This advertising campaign ought to put our business way out front.
    • Show Business [Theat.] in the audience or auditorium.
    • Informal Terms candidly;
      frankly:
      Say what you mean out front.
26. Informal Terms up front:
    • in advance;
      before anything else:
      You'll have to make a payment of $5,000 up front.
    • frank;
      open;
      direct:
      I want you to be up front with me.

adj. 

27. of or pertaining to the front.
28. situated in or at the front:
    front seats.
29. Phonetics (of a speech sound) articulated with the tongue blade relatively far forward in the mouth, as the sounds of lay.

v.t. 

30. to have the front toward;
    face:
    Our house fronts the lake.
31. to meet face to face;
    confront.
32. to face in opposition, hostility, or defiance.
33. to furnish or supply a front to:
    to front a building with sandstone.
34. to serve as a front to:
    A long, sloping lawn fronted their house.
35. Informal Terms to provide an introduction to;
    introduce:
    a recorded message that is fronted with a singing commercial.
36. Music and Dance to lead (a jazz or dance band).
37. Phonetics to articulate (a speech sound) at a position farther front in the mouth.
38. Linguistics to move (a constituent) to the beginning of a clause or sentence.

v.i. 

39. to have or turn the front in some specified direction:
    Our house fronts on the lake.
40. to serve as a cover or disguise for another activity, esp. something of a disreputable or illegal nature:
    The shop fronts for a narcotics ring.

interj. 

41. (used to call or command someone to come, look, etc., to the front, as in an order to troops on parade or in calling a hotel bellboy to the front desk):
    Front and center, on the double!

• Latin front- (stem of frōns) forehead, brow, front
• Anglo-French, Old French
• Middle English frount, front 1250–1300

front., 

1. Printing frontispiece.