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 Web
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Raw-finish fronts were used atop IKEA cabinets: the lower units are black with brass handles while those mounted on the wall above the work area are in gray and without handles.
—Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024
Elena Santa Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
As much a part of London in the Swinging Sixties as Carnaby Street and The Rolling Stones, textile designer Celia Birtwell, together with her husband, the celebrated designer Ossie Clark, fronted a new generation of talented creatives who helped shape the decade.
—Emma Baxter-Wright, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
In the case of the Vanquish, that starts with a chassis that is a stunning 75 percent stiffer in lateral rigidity at the front axle, when compared to the DBS.
—Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for front 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Analysts standing in front of a big electronic board counting votes and breaking them down state by state, county by county, in granular detail have now become an election night staple.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Raw-finish fronts were used atop IKEA cabinets: the lower units are black with brass handles while those mounted on the wall above the work area are in gray and without handles.
—Nicolas Milon, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
An orchard fronts the west side of Greenfield Road.
—Elena Santa Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
As much a part of London in the Swinging Sixties as Carnaby Street and The Rolling Stones, textile designer Celia Birtwell, together with her husband, the celebrated designer Ossie Clark, fronted a new generation of talented creatives who helped shape the decade.
—Emma Baxter-Wright, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The suspects’ vehicle has been described as a black, four-door Lexus ES 350 that appeared to have noticeable damage on the front driver’s-side fender.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
In the case of the Vanquish, that starts with a chassis that is a stunning 75 percent stiffer in lateral rigidity at the front axle, when compared to the DBS.
—Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for front
Dictionary Entries Near front
Cite this Entry
“Front.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front. Accessed 22 Nov. 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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