front
noun /frʌnt/
/frʌnt/
Idioms - [countable, usually singular](usually the front)the part or side of something that faces forward; the side of something that you look at first
- The front of the building was covered with ivy.
- The front of the car was badly damaged.
- on the front The book has a picture of Rome on the front.
- up the front The jacket zips up the front.
- down the front a green sleeveless top which buttons down the front
Extra ExamplesTopics Houses and homesa1- Check the position of the pockets on the jacket front.
- I usually end up with gravy down my shirt front.
- She stared into the large mirror, running her hands down the front of her dress.
- The dress is embroidered at the neck and down the front.
- They run an annual competition for tidy shop and house fronts.
- The drawer fronts are made of solid mahogany.
- the front[singular] the position that is directly ahead of somebody/something
- I turned round to face the front.
- Keep your eyes to the front and walk straight ahead.
- at the front of something There's a garden at the front of the house.
- the front[singular] the part of something that is furthest forward
- The singer came to the front of the stage.
- The teacher made me move my seat to the front of the classroom.
- at the front She always sits at the front.
- at the front of something Put your fare into the box at the front of the bus.
- in the front I prefer to travel in the front (= next to the driver in a car).
- in the front of something Write your name in the front of the book (= the first few pages).
- to the front (of something) The dining room is to the front of the house.
Which Word? in front of / in the front ofin front of / in the front of- In front of can mean the same as outside, but not opposite:
- I’ll meet you in front of/outside your hotel.
- There’s a bus stop in front of the house (= on the same side of the road).
- There’s a bus stop opposite the house (= on the other side of the road).
- In/at the front (of something) means ‘in the most forward part of something’:
- The driver sits at the front of the bus.
- Put the shortest flowers in the front (of the bunch).
- somebody’s front[singular] the part of somebody’s body that faces forwards
- on your front She was lying on her front.
- down your front I spilled coffee down my front.
- [countable] the west, north, south, east, etc. front the side of a large building, especially a church, that faces west, north, etc.
- the west front of the cathedral
- the front[singular] (British English) the road or area of land along the edge of the sea, a lake or a river
- Couples walked hand in hand along the front.
- [countable, usually singular] an area where fighting takes place during a war
- More British troops have been sent to the front.
- to serve at the front
- fighting a war on two fronts
- Reports from the battle fronts became briefer and vaguer.
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictc2- Even young teenagers were sent to the front.
- Thousands were killed on the eastern front.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- eastern
- western
- etc.
- …
- send somebody to
- at the front
- on the front
- [countable] a particular area of activity
- on the… front Things are looking unsettled on the economic front.
- Things should get a little easier on the work front soon.
- Progress has been made on all fronts.
- [singular] behaviour that is not what it appears to be, done in order to hide somebody's true feelings or opinions
- It's not always easy to put on a brave front for the family.
- front for something Rudeness is just a front for her shyness.
Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesc2- She put on a brave front, but I knew how miserable she was.
- Without that false front, I wouldn't be able to face the world.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- common
- unified
- united
- …
- put on
- keep
- present
- …
- front for
- [countable, usually singular] front (for something) a person or an organization that is used to hide an illegal or secret activity
- The travel company is just a front for drug trafficking.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- common
- unified
- united
- …
- put on
- keep
- present
- …
- front for
- Front[singular] used in the names of some political organizations
- the Animal Liberation Front
- [countable] the line where a mass of cold air meets a mass of warm air
- a cold/warm front
forward part/position
chest
side of building
edge of sea/lake
in war
area of activity
hiding true feelings
hiding something illegal
political organization
weather
Word OriginMiddle English (denoting the forehead): from Old French front (noun), fronter (verb), from Latin frons, front- ‘forehead, front’.
Idioms
back to front (British English)
(North American English backwards)
- if you put on a piece of clothing back to front, you make a mistake and put the back where the front should be
- I think you've got that sweater on back to front.
before/in front of somebody’s (very) eyes
- in somebody’s presence; in front of somebody
- He had seen his life's work destroyed before his very eyes.
- Before our very eyes, the bird snatched the fish from the plate and flew off.
cash up front
(British English also cash down)
- with immediate payment of cash
- to pay for something cash up front
form, present, etc. a united front
- to show people that all members of a group have the same opinion about things
- The prime minister stressed the need to present a united front.
front and centre
(US English front and center)
- in or into the most important position
- The issue has moved front and center in his presidential campaign.
in front adverb
- in a position that is further forward than somebody/something but not very far away
- Their house is the one with the big garden in front.
- in first place in a race or competition
- The blue team is currently in front with a lead of six points.
in front of preposition
- in a position that is further forward than somebody/something but not very far away
- The car in front of me stopped suddenly and I had to brake.
- The bus stops right in front of our house.
- He was standing in front of me in the line.
- She is now entitled to put ‘Professor’ in front of her name.
- in a position facing somebody/something
- to perform in front of a big crowd/audience
- She spends all day sitting in front of (= working at) her computer.
- She's a natural in front of the camera (= being filmed/photographed).
- if you do something in front of somebody, you do it when they are there
- Please don't talk about it in front of the children.
- in front of somebody (of time) still to come; not yet passed
- Don't give up. You still have your whole life in front of you.
lead from the front
- to take an active part in what you are telling or persuading others to do
out front
- in the part of a theatre, restaurant, etc. where the public sits
- There's only a small audience out front tonight.
- He cooked while she sat out front and waited tables.
- (also British English, informal out the front)in the area near to the entrance to a building
- I’ll wait for you out (the) front.
up front (informal)
- as payment in advance
- We'll pay you half up front and the other half when you've finished the job.
- (in sports) in a forward position
- to play up front
see also upfront