# upfront

/ˈəpˌfɹənt/ (US) · /ˈʌpfɹʌnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/upfront
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. honest and open

adjective · CEFR B2

being honest and direct about your intentions or the facts.

For teachers: characterised by honesty, frankness, and transparency regarding intentions or information.

- You need to be upfront with your boss about why you are leaving the company.
- The consultant was remarkably upfront about the potential risks, refusing to sugarcoat the data just to please the board of directors.

Usage: Usually used after the verb 'be' or before a noun.

### 2. paid in advance

adjective · CEFR B2

paid or required at the beginning of a deal, before any work is done.

For teachers: referring to a payment made in advance of receiving goods or services.

- The landlord asked for an upfront payment of two months' rent.
- The contract requires an upfront investment to cover raw materials before the manufacturing phase can begin.

### 3. at the beginning

adverb · CEFR B2

at the very start of a process or a period of time.

For teachers: occurring or performed at the outset of a process or transaction.

- If we discuss the budget upfront, we can avoid arguments later.
- By addressing the technical limitations upfront, the team saved weeks of development time that would have been wasted on unfeasible features.

### 4. in a leading position

adverb · CEFR B2

at the front of a group, a building, or a sports team.

For teachers: positioned at the front or in a leading role, particularly in a physical or tactical arrangement.

- The team is playing with two strikers upfront to try and score early.
- The captain stayed upfront to lead the march, ensuring the rest of the group could see the path clearly through the fog.

### 5. advertising event

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a meeting where TV networks show their new shows to advertisers to sell commercial time.

For teachers: a series of meetings where television network executives showcase upcoming programming to advertisers to secure early ad sales.

- The network announced three new comedies during the spring upfronts.
- During the annual upfronts, media buyers evaluate the pilot episodes to determine which time slots offer the best return on investment for their clients.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'upfronts'.

## Examples

- She was very upfront about the costs.
- The agency requires an upfront payment before they begin any creative work on the new campaign.
- While some negotiators prefer to reveal their terms gradually, being upfront about your non-negotiable requirements can often save both parties significant time during the initial discovery phase.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.