front

The opposite of back is front. Something that appears in the front is plain to see, or it’s quickly available.

• The best seats in a classroom are in the front row.
• You get the best view up front.
• If you sit in the front of the bus, you can talk to the bus driver.
• The entrance to a house is usually in the front.
• In the United States, most houses have a front yard.
• Many old houses in the U.S. have a front porch.
• An entrance to a building is located in the front.
• Pockets and buttons are found on the front side of a shirt.
• A person who stands at the front of the line is the next person to be called.

A front can also be something that’s not real, or it’s pretend.

• Walter White’s car wash was just a front for an illegal business.
• Don’t believe them. They’re just putting up a front.

A front is also a weather pattern that moves over an area:

• A cold front is moving into Minnesota from the Dakotas.
• When a cold front and a warm front come together, sometimes they create tornados.

The word "front" may be used in naming a political movement.

• The National Liberation Front was active during the Algerian War in the 1950s.
• The National Front is a right-wing populist movement in France. It’s led by Marine Le Pen.

When the word "front" is used as a verb, it means that money is lent or given to another person.

• Tony wants to start a business, but he needs someone to front him some money.
• I’ll pay you back tomorrow if you can front me some cash today.

Click here to learn how to use "in front of."

Click here to learn more vocabulary.

Date of publication: February 7, 2017