upfront

Paid before you receive a product or service, or before work begins.

• There is an upfront fee.
• We cannot afford the upfront costs.
• The builder asked for an upfront payment before starting work.

Similar words: advance, initial

Common phrases: upfront payment, upfront fee, upfront costs

Honest and clear about what you think or know.

• She was upfront about the cost.
• Please be upfront with me about your plans.
• He gave us an upfront answer.

How to use it: upfront about something (We were upfront about the risks.); upfront with someone (You should be upfront with your boss.)

Similar words: honest, frank, straightforward

Opposites: dishonest

Common phrases: upfront with someone, upfront about something, be upfront

Placed at the front or in a leading position.

• The drums have an upfront position in the mix.
• Her upfront vocals dominate the recording.
• The shop gave the new products an upfront display.

Similar words: prominent, leading

Common phrases: upfront position, upfront vocals, upfront display

Openly known or admitted, rather than kept secret.

• Their relationship was upfront from the beginning.
• Her political commitment was upfront and widely known.
• The book makes his religious identity upfront.

Similar words: open, acknowledged, public

Opposites: secret

Common phrases: upfront relationship, upfront identity, upfront commitment

Before work starts or before you receive something you are paying for.

• We paid upfront.
• The hotel charges half the price upfront.
• They agreed upfront how much the work would cost.

Similar words: in advance, beforehand

Opposites: afterwards

Common phrases: pay upfront, charge upfront, agree upfront

In an attacking position near the other team’s goal, especially in football.

• He plays upfront for our team.
• The coach put two players upfront.
• Who will play upfront in tomorrow’s match?

Similar words: in attack

Common phrases: play upfront, put someone upfront

A meeting where television companies present new shows to advertisers and the press before selling advertising time.

• The network held an upfront in May.
• Advertisers attended the upfront to preview new shows.
• Several upfronts took place before the television season began.

Common phrases: annual upfront, network upfront, attend an upfront

To give something a more important position so that people will consider it.

• We need to upfront this issue.
• She upfronted the budget problem at the meeting.
• The report upfronts concerns about staff safety.

Similar words: highlight, foreground

Common phrases: upfront an issue, upfront a proposal, upfront something