front
front
Pronunciation
The word "front" is pronounced as /frʌnt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
front:
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/r/ - alveolar approximant
/ʌ/ - open-mid back unrounded vowel
/n/ - alveolar nasal
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: front
Plural Noun: fronts
Verb (Base/Infinitive): front
Verb (Third Person Singular Present): fronts
Verb (Present Participle/Gerund): fronting
Verb (Past Simple/Past Participle): fronted
Adjective: front
Adverb: front (often used in phrases like "front and center")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The most forward part or side of something, especially the part that is intended to face outwards or be seen first.
Example: The house had a beautiful garden at the front.
Synonyms: facade, face, exterior, fore
Antonyms: back, rear, behind, interior
Definition: A line or area where armed forces are engaged in conflict; a battlefield or a zone of military operations.
Example: Troops were deployed to the western front.
Synonyms: battlefield, battle line, fighting line, war zone
Antonyms: rear (as in rear of an army), home front
Definition: A particular area of activity or an aspect of a situation, especially one that presents a challenge or requires attention.
Example: The politician addressed the unemployment front in their speech.
Synonyms: aspect, area, domain, sphere, sector
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, often no direct antonym)
Definition: A metaphorical barrier or a display of confidence or toughness put on to conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example: Despite his calm front, he was very nervous.
Synonyms: facade, pretense, veneer, mask, show
Antonyms: sincerity, honesty, openness, candor
Definition: A person or organization that acts as a cover for a secret or illegal activity.
Example: The legitimate business was just a front for money laundering.
Synonyms: cover, disguise, sham, facade, blind
Antonyms: legitimate entity, true identity
Verb
Definition: To face or be positioned with the front towards a particular direction or object.
Example: The building fronts onto the main street.
Synonyms: face, overlook, abut, look out on
Antonyms: back, turn away from
Definition: To be the leader or public representative of a group, organization, or activity.
Example: The singer will front the new band.
Synonyms: lead, head, spearhead, represent, champion
Antonyms: follow, trail, back (as in support from behind)
Definition: To provide a facade or cover for something, especially an illegal or deceptive activity.
Example: He was accused of fronting a drug operation.
Synonyms: cover for, act as a facade for, masquerade as
Antonyms: reveal, expose, disclose
Adjective
Definition: Of, at, or in the front; situated at the foremost part.
Example: They sat in the front row.
Synonyms: foremost, leading, forward, anterior
Antonyms: back, rear, hind, posterior
Examples of Use
Books:
"All Quiet on the Western Front" (Erich Maria Remarque, 1929) is a classic novel depicting the harrowing experiences of German soldiers on the Western Front during World War I.
"She kept up a brave front, despite the challenges she faced." (A common phrase found in various fiction and non-fiction works exploring human resilience.)
Newspapers:
"The city's affordable housing crisis remains a top front for local policymakers." ( The New York Times, May 2024)
"Weather Front Brings Heavy Rains to Southern Regions" (The Guardian, June 2024)
Online Publications:
"Tech companies are battling on several fronts, from artificial intelligence development to cybersecurity." ( Wired, April 2024)
"Investors are keeping a close eye on the economic front as inflation concerns persist." (Bloomberg.com, July 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie "Ford v Ferrari" (2019), engineers work on the "front end" of the race car to optimize its aerodynamics.
Television Series: "The West Wing" (various episodes) frequently discusses how the White House deals with various "policy fronts" or "diplomatic fronts."
Music: The song "Frontin'" by Pharrell Williams (2003) uses "frontin'" to describe putting on a false display or pretense.
Video Games: In many strategy games, players manage their "front lines" of troops against an enemy. For example, in Age of Empires IV, players strategically position units on the front to defend their base or attack opponents.
General Public Discourse:
"The community organized a clean-up effort, focusing on the riverfront area." (Heard in local community meeting discussions, often referring to the land alongside a river.)
"He put up a good front, but you could tell he was nervous." (Common conversational phrase describing someone's outward demeanor.)
"We need to present a united front on this issue." (Frequently heard in political or organizational discussions emphasizing solidarity.)
10 Quotes Using Front
"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"When you're born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front row seat." (George Carlin)
"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership." (Nelson Mandela)
"You simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going." (George Lucas)
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." (Henry David Thore1au)
"True friends stab you in the front." (Oscar Wilde)
"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." (H. L. Mencken)
"Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
"We need to stand up and become a united front against a common enemy." (John Leguizamo)
"Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts." (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
Etymology
The word "front" has a history that goes way back to ancient times, evolving from words that basically meant "forehead" or "face."
It comes to us through Old French, where "front" meant "forehead" or "face." Before that, it came from the Latin word frons, which also meant "forehead" or "brow," and by extension, the "forepart" or "face."
The earliest known use of "front" in English, around the late 13th century, was to refer to the forehead or face of a person. Soon after, it started being used for the forepart or foremost side of anything, like the front of a building or a line of people. So, its original meaning was very much tied to the idea of what is "in front" or "facing outwards."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Front
In front of: Directly ahead of, or in the presence of.
Up front: Paid in advance; also, honest and direct.
Front runner: The person, team, or thing that is most likely to win a competition or election.
To front for someone/something: To act as a legitimate cover or representative for an illicit or secret activity.
To put on a brave front: To act as if one is strong and not afraid, even when feeling worried or scared.
Front and center: In the most prominent and important position.
Front line: The most advanced or important position in a particular area of activity, often military.
Front-page news: News that is very important and reported prominently.
To present a united front: For a group of people to act together and in agreement, especially in opposition to others.
On the front burner: Being given high priority or immediate attention.
To get in someone's front door: To gain access or entry to something.
Front-row seat: A privileged position from which to observe an event.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of front from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
