up front

also up-front

1) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ If you are up front about something, you act openly or publicly so that people know what you are doing or what you believe. [INFORMAL]

You can't help being biased so you may as well be up front about it...

They tended to have a much more up-front attitude.

Syn:

direct, frank

2) ADV: ADV after v If a payment is made up front, it is made in advance and openly, so that the person being paid can see that the money is there.

For the first time the government's actually put some money up front...

Some companies charge a fee up front, but we don't think that's right.

ADJ: ADJ n

Up front is also an adjective.

The eleven percent loan has no up-front costs. ...up-front charges.