the foremost part or surface of anything.

the part or side of anything that faces forward

the front of a jacket.

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.

any side or face, as of a building.

a façade, considered with respect to its architectural treatment or material

a cast-iron front.

a property line along a street or the like

a fifty-foot front.

a place or position directly before anything

We decided to plant trees in the front.

a position of leadership in a particular endeavor or field

She rose to the front of her profession.

Military .

the foremost line or part of an army.

a line of battle.

the place where combat operations are carried on.

an area of activity, conflict, or competition

news from the business front.

land facing a road, river, etc.

British . a promenade along a seashore.

Informal . a distinguished person listed as an official of an organization, for the sake of prestige, and who is usually inactive.

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.

outward impression of rank, position, or wealth.

bearing or demeanor in confronting anything

a calm front.

haughtiness; self-importance

That clerk has the most outrageous front.

the forehead, or the entire face

the statue's gracefully chiseled front.

a coalition or movement to achieve a particular end, usually political

the people's front.

something attached or worn at the breast, as a shirt front or a dickey

to spill gravy down one's front.

Meteorology . an interface or zone of transition between two dissimilar air masses.

Theater .

the auditorium.

the business offices of a theater.

the front of the stage; downstage.

of or pertaining to the front.

situated in or at the front

front seats.

Phonetics . (of a speech sound) articulated with the tongue blade relatively far forward in the mouth, as the sounds of lay.

to have the front toward; face

Our house fronts the lake.

to meet face to face; confront.

to face in opposition, hostility, or defiance.

to furnish or supply a front to

to front a building with sandstone.

to serve as a front to

A long, sloping lawn fronted their house.

Informal . to provide an introduction to; introduce

a recorded message that is fronted with a singing commercial.

to lead (a jazz or dance band).

Phonetics . to articulate (a speech sound) at a position farther front in the mouth.

Linguistics . to move (a constituent) to the beginning of a clause or sentence.

to have or turn the front in some specified direction

Our house fronts on the lake.

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.

(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!

in front

in a forward place or position

Sit down, you in front!

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.

out front

outside the entrance

He's waiting out front.

ahead of competitors

This advertising campaign ought to put our business way out front.

Theater . in the audience or auditorium.

Informal . candidly; frankly

Say what you mean out front.

up front

Informal .

in advance; before anything else

You'll have to make a payment of

frank; open; direct

I want you to be up front with me.

adjective

back , ending , final , finishing , rear

noun

back , rear

adjective

advanced , ahead , anterior , facial , first , fore , foremost , forward , frontal , head , headmost , in the foreground , leading , obverse , topmost , vanward , ventral , avant-garde

noun

anterior , bow , breast , brow , exterior , facade , face , facing , fore , foreground , forehead , forepart , frontage , frontal , frontispiece , front line , head , lead , obverse , proscenium , top , van , vanguard , air , aspect , bearing , blind , carriage , coloring , countenance , cover , cover-up * , demeanor , disguise , display , expression , fake , figure , manner , mask , mien , phony , port , presence , pretext , put-on , show , veil , window dressing * , cloak , color , disguisement , false colors , gloss , guise , masquerade , pretense , semblance , veneer , window-dressing , anteriority , avant-garde , fore-rank , foremost , front rank.--a.anterior , physiognomy , recto

verb

border , confront , cover , encounter , face , look over , meet , overlay , overlook , look , accost , beard , brave , challenge , dare , anterior , appearance , before , beginning , bow , brow , demeanor , dickey , disguise , display , effrontery , exterior , facade , facing , fore , forehead , foremost , forward , head , lead , manner , obverse , oppose , outlook , show , van